On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 08:55:18 -0700, chuckgould.chuck wrote:


General question: We hear all this rhetoric about environmentalists
preventing the construction of an adequate number of refineries. Does
anybody know of a specific, recent, case where an oil company tried to
build a refinery and the attempt was thwarted by environmentalists? Would
be interesting to see a cite.

To increase profitability, oil companies have been streamlining refining
operations. This includes closing refineries and expanding existing
ones. They are not building new ones. In 1982, there were 231 oil
refineries in the US. In 2000, there were 155. In that time, according to
Carol Browner of the EPA, there was *one* application made to build a new
refinery.

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-...f:74099 .wais

To increase profitability ? They are making record profits as we type. Were
talking BILLIONS of dollars in profits. They are raping us because they know
they can.
"thunder" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 08:55:18 -0700, chuckgould.chuck wrote:


General question: We hear all this rhetoric about environmentalists
preventing the construction of an adequate number of refineries. Does
anybody know of a specific, recent, case where an oil company tried to
build a refinery and the attempt was thwarted by environmentalists? Would
be interesting to see a cite.

To increase profitability, oil companies have been streamlining refining
operations. This includes closing refineries and expanding existing
ones. They are not building new ones. In 1982, there were 231 oil
refineries in the US. In 2000, there were 155. In that time, according to
Carol Browner of the EPA, there was *one* application made to build a new
refinery.

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-...f:74099 .wais

On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 09:50:12 -0700, ed wrote:

To increase profitability ? They are making record profits as we type.
Were talking BILLIONS of dollars in profits. They are raping us because
they know they can.

I should have been clearer. I was referring to the profitability of the
refining section of the industry. The refining/marketing section profits
have lagged considerably behind the production profits.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/p...ining_text.htm