CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS: Why do they say that liberals have blocked building refineries?

Question

when they had control of congress and the presidency for six years and failed to build any refineries?

Must have been Clinton's fault

netjr...maybe it should be a federal issue

Answer 1

Thank you for asking this question.

Maybe it's because the less refineries = the higher their profits (i.e. the more we pay at the pump)...?

Answer 2

Because the environmental regulations passed by liberals make it non-profitable to build or in some cases even run a refinery. The last refinery built in the US was in 1976, so the last 6 years are meaningless to the arguement. In 1985 there were 254 operating refineries in the US, today there are only 142. However, these exixting refineries have actually been expanded and are producing at record levels. They producew 17 million barrels a day and Americans consume 22 million barrels a day. The difference is imported. Any proposed new refinery would cost 2-3 billion dollars to construct , and would also have to find a location not deemed invironmentally sensitive by the statues and constraints liberals have placed on them. It is simply not worth it to the Oil Companies to fight those battles and expendatures. What you should really be asking is why the liberals won't let us get at the oil off the gulf coast and in Alaska. Other countries are already starting to drill in the gulf off our coasts in international waters, but the libertards think that their derricks must be invisible and only our derricks can be seen off shore. The fact of the matter is, to even see one from the shore you would have to be on the 45th floor of a high rise building . The curvature of the Earth causes that, or do you still believe the Earth is flat? Or that interupting the mating habits of a caribou by occupying less than 1% of the off limits area in Alaska and leaving virtuallty no footprint is reason to stop us from drilling in the 2nd largest untapped oil field in the world. Next question?

Answer 3

First, The oil companies build the refineries, not the polititians. The Liberals are very concerned with enviromental issues and tend to fight against refineries and power plants. As a example, California is one of the most liberal states in the union, there has been no construction of oil refineries or power plants there in over 30 years. Even though they have constant power shortages in the summer. The states issue building permits for these projects. No permit, no power plant.

Answer 4

Actually, new refineries are being built all the time.

It's just that they're built in the same place as the old refineries, but they're listed as refurbs, so they won't have to adhere to the rules the EPA has placed on new refineries and taxes, inspections etc.; they're 'grandfathered' in.

Still, no matter whether you call it a refurb or new, we've plenty of processing power to meet the demand for gasoline.

And the reason congress or the government doesn't build (or refurb) any refineries is because the US don't have any state-owned fuel companies.

Unless you count Halliburton ;)

Answer 5

The truth is, there were ZERO refineries built since the early 70's. The reason for this is that we are running out of cheap to get oil and the companies have known about it for over 30 years. Why would they build new refineries if their product is running out?

Answer 6

It's easy. Liberal envoronmentalists have blocked Hydor-electric dams, nuclear power plants, and just about every other valid idea that would provide the US with alternative energy sources. You just put the words into thought and make them audible.

Because your education is sadly lacking let me enloighten you. Government does not and never has built a refinery. You talk about for six years? You are funny! Have you heard Nancy and Harry even mention government built refineries? NO! Is there a Democrat even talking about government building refineries? NO!

Answer 7

Liberal environmentalists are the greatest obstacle to the building of additional refineries, nuclear power stations and drilling for oil anywhere in America or off shore.

Facts are facts. Liberals own the lack of new refineries. Most are very proud of that fact.

No new refineries have been built since the 1970's. They are not built by congress but the agencies, associations and groups that file lawsuits blocking the permits required to build them are primarily liberal groups.
.

Answer 8

Same reason why we haven't built a Nuclear power plant in some time. The local environmentalist groups will not stand for the destruction of a spotted owl, or a particular butterfly. These groups associate themselves with the liberal left of America. It would take at least 6-10 years to even get the paperwork through. This is not this administrations fault. France generates more clean nuclear power than we do. So 6-10 years to even get one passed, plus the time it would take to build a refinery and be able to transform crude into fuel would probably take more time at this point than it would to switch everything to a new renewable energy. Oil companies see this and don't want to invest the money or the time.

Answer 9

There was a segment on "60 Minutes" last year about why oil companies haven't built an oil refinery in the US in like 30 years. The oil company representitive sighted 2 reasons, and neither of them had to do with money.
1) NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) - No one want an oil refinery near them.
2) Too much red tape and regulations by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) They said it takes 10 to 15 years from start to finish, to build an oil refinery in the US.

Answer 10

Because they are feeling on the defensive and they just can't admit that the Gas and Oil industry is doing everything it can...just like Enron...to keep the supply lower than demand.

Expect to hear a lot about those LOOOONNNG GAAAASSS LIIIINNNEESSS coming back from the 1980's if the States start investigating, too.
You will hear it as a kind of sing-song phrase repeated more than once in a single statement. I am pretty sure it is part of the new talking points.

I see it as a threat.

Answer 11

Bush and posse are in the business of manipulating supply and demand. They don't care about new oil refineries.

Its all about increased PROFITS and if new refineries led to increased profits, the environmentalists would not have enough power to put a halt to new construction.