The primary reason for not building more refineries has been the permitting process along with all the increased safety and environmental restrictions. It was much cheaper to import than to build to the regulations.

I could be wrong, but I recall that almost all of the oil from the Alaska fields shipped through the pipeline was sent off shore for refining and sales. This, despite refineries in Washington State, at Cherry Point. I always wondered why gas was so expensive in Washington State, irrespective of state taxes when we had an in state refinery and close to the wellhead...

Gives one pause; doesn't it?

Coupled with improved petro systems; we need to build more Nuclear Plants. They are the only current systems that do not pollute during the energy production cycle. Solar and wind also do not. Despite all the rumors associated with Three Mile Island, which was a major accident, not a single person was injured. Compare this to the numerous refinery accidents that have occured nationwide. True, the storage of Nuclear Waste is a problem; but one that can be managed with the opening of the Yucca Flats storage facility. Here again, America is tied up in permitting and environmenal issues. We can't certify that the facility is safe forever, but certainly make the scientific evidence backed statements that it is good for thousands of years. Nothing is forever.

Red

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2005 Titan KC SE, Helwig, True-Track, ARE MX Canopy