So who is really to blame for high gas prices, environmental wacko's, Congress, or the oil companies?

Question

Well I've heard here lately that it's the environmental wacko's who refused to allow refinieries to be built, since there is a lack of refineries the poor oil companies can't be held liable, also that Congress hasn't granted permission for new refineries, then low and behold on Fox news of all places (Neil Cavuto's business show actually) I learned an astounding piece of info, since 1976 there has only been ONE application by an oil company to build a new refinery and that was in Maricopa County, Arizona. That request was vetted and approved within a year. So you tell me who's really screwing who, the oil companies arguements fall apart when you realize the (expletive deleted) haven't even tried to add capacity, they're also turning a $36.00 per barrel profit as opposed to the $9.00 that was the original target for good profitability, we're getting shafted folks and NOW you know why and WHO to blame so save me all the BS

That Girl can you even freaking read

What proof can ANYONE offer that environmetalists won't let us build, you can't have any since there have been any applications to challenge

Hey TAp what part of the facts don't you like they HAVEN'T APPLIED, Gold some people

Latest Greates can read and rationalize smart individual for these boards

Answer 1

Refineries have gotten hundreds of permits to expand refineries and expand existing capacity since Nixon established the EPA so that premise is yet another right-wing fairy tale. They could get permits to build new refineries if they applied for them, but the fact is they don't want to actually increase the supply of gasoline since that would reduce their profit margins. The only reason they expand capacity at all is to increase their market share.

The big oil companies have taken the record profits they've made to put the independents out of business long ago and block legislation to develop alternatives to oil and gas.

Answer 2

One important point no one has addressed is the cost of crude oil. The cost of crude has gone up significantly over the past 10 years, not because of gas or oil shortage or because of oil companies increasing the price of crude. Oil is speculative markets which mean the price goes up any time the "investors" (anyone who buys or sells stocks) think there may be a shortage or a problem.

This is not blame it all on one entity problem certainly the oil companies are getting a higher profit because of the high cost of crude. There are no new refineries being built, but we are also not having a gas shortage. I don't see gas stations rationing gas and people standing in line for hours on end. I am just old enough to remember the gas crisis of the 1970's when you did have to stand in line forever and you could only get a certain amount of gas at one time. After the 1970's the government passed laws that ensured that cars would get better gas mileage, so cars would get closer to 30 mpg. The auto industry began building SUVs and vans, which bypassed the regulations because these vehicles are built on frames that were not included in the new regulations. It was cheaper to build large cars around the regulations that find new ways to build cars that got better gas mileage. Why do you think SUVs became popular? Because people liked them? Or because the car companies spent millions in advertising to get people to like them.

I agree there are some environment wacko's out there. But those of you who belittle and deride them are the first to seek them out for your defense when something goes wrong in your backyard that makes you sick, or decreases the price of your property. Environmentalists are only some of the problem with finding new places for refineries you also have the "not in my backyard" mentality.

Local and state governments are horrible at creating workable, inexpensive, and safe public transportation.

With the technology available at least 25% of the work force should be able to work from home at least a few days a week. It's ridiculous to put 300 - 500 or more miles a week on a car just to get to and from work.

In the end if you want someone to blame stop looking around and take a look in the mirror. Everyone contributes to the high gas price until we start to have a real shortage of gas, nothing is going to change.

Answer 3

"since 1976 there has only been ONE application by an oil company to build a new refinery and that was in Maricopa County, Arizona. That request was vetted and approved within a year. So you tell me who's really screwing who, the oil companies...etc"

They did not build a plant in Maricopa County Arizona. Project was scrapped in October 2003 as per Arizona Tribune and writer G. Nelson. 480-898-6541 or [e-mail].

Cost of project was projected at $2.5 Billion.

Project was changed to Arizona Clean Fuels.com and would convert crude oil delivered by pipe line to a different county. From what I can find out...limited research...refinery is still not on line.....being fought by you know who...

You can say what you want. If you say the wacko's have not stopped refineries being built...shame on you...

At this point from an application to opening a new refinery takes between 7 and 10 years. If you were to apply today to build a nuke plant...it would not be complete by year 2050. If you don't believe me....check on PEPCO (Potomac Electric Power Co) and Nuke plant they wanted to build at Douglas Point. They scrapped it because of all Environmental Wacko junk.

Who in business and their right minds would spend hundreds of millions on attorneys/beauracrats/paper work for something that is doomed from the start? And if you're going to tell me that the Wacko's want fight it...feel sorry for you....

Did you know that 13% of all gas used in the US of A is shipped into us by pipe or tanker?? We don't have the refineries to process the crude and your DAMED ENVIRONMENTAL WACKO"S are the idiots that have stopped the building of refineries.

Did you know that the 13% of gas that's shipped to us comes from over sea's refineries that don't have the technology that we have and they have to tool up to even be able to refine it due to the Boutiqe blends that have been mandated by the WACKO's.

Know I've not convinced you...I don't give a damn. As far as I'm concerned will pay 10 bucks gallon and hope the Wacko's are walking or riding a bike. You people have damned near put yourselves there. Thank your tree huggin' buddy's and have a nice walk in the park!

Answer 4

The Bush White House and the Republican-dominated Congresses. They had a hand-off policy and don't believe regulating or restraining any industry, especially oil. The House passed a bill yesterday that would prohibit gas price gouging, and Bush says he'll veto it.

The oil companies will do what companies do. If they can get away with price gouging and manipulation and taking excess profits, they will.

Answer 5

Oil businesses are making huge earnings presently, this is actual. yet their markup isn't probably any plenty greater than many different merchants, so a "no severe markup" regulation would not do plenty. and value administration rules many times do not paintings - fairly if the fee of crude is going severe adequate that oil businesses can in basic terms sell gasoline at a loss. whilst that happens, not merchandising gasoline in any respect sounds like a doable selection. a great variety of the failings i might desire to verify Congress attempting to do with regards to the fee of oil are probably to have extremely some different unintentional effects. i can't fairly think of of a doable, sensible action Congress *might desire to* take to convey the fee down. i might fairly see extra human beings attempting to discover the thank you to minimize their gasoline intake.

Answer 6

Let people in Alaska and California vote on offshore drilling off the coast of there states, if they vote against it raise their gas prices fifty to seventy five percent. I live in Chalmette, Louisiana, there are two oil refineries in just that city and many offshore oil rigs. Our gas prices are over three dollars a gallon. We sacrificed our coast lline for the country, they should as well.

Answer 7

So the oil companies are making a profit. And you won't see ONE person say otherwise! You are misunderstanding what Conservatives are saying.

We are saying, it is the Liberals who are doing the loudest crying about gas prices, yet they fail to take any responsibility for blocking efforts to build new refineries. And the so-called wacko environmentalists bear a share of the blame.

What I want to know is why global warming theorists aren't loving high gas prices?

Answer 8

Gasoline is a manufactured product like any other, and its makers will charge what they can as long as you're willing to pay it.

Lets face it. If you were producing the worlds single most popular product, you'd charge the highest price you could without losing customers. You can't blame the government or the environmentalists. The fact is that you and I right now would STILL be putting gas in our tanks if the price was $5.00 per gallon!

Yeah, it sucks, but that's the way it is.

Answer 9

Globalism has created a supply/demand price increase, we have enriched China and India to the point where their populations can afford to buy and maintain cars instead of bicycles. Half the worlds supply of gas goes to those two nations. Blame the global economy people. It's good to be the KING.

Answer 10

It's a combination.

The environmentalist wackos won't let us build refineries, it's true. But also, the oil companies refuse to build them! They would rather pump up the gas prices and turn a huge profit, blaming the war!

The fact is that the oil companies are making a killing off of the war!

Don't get me wrong, I'm a lifelong conservative, but the oil companies making bank from the war is just wrong.