[Howlin]

This may be the dumbest question ever, but why can't we build anymore refineries?

[nopardons]

Because of the enviro wackos. They put the screws to the damned Dems, more than 30 years ago...hence no more drilling and no new refineries built.

[ItsForTheChildren]

Here's an article you might find interesting.

I'd always heard it was the enviro-whackos that kept us from getting new refineries. While that may have some truth to it I don't think the oil companies were all that interested in pressing the issue. More supply means lower prices. Fewer refineries = less supply = higher prices = more profits. And then they had the enviro-whackos take the hit. A neat and tidy package.

And I'll probably get flayed here for saying that. :-)

[soupcon]

"This may be the dumbest question ever, but why can't we build anymore refineries?"

There is simply no possible way to build a new refinery to code.
We're talking serious toxic waste here...
The best solution is to refine off-shore, I nominate Haiti.

[Garry Boldwater]

This may be the dumbest question ever, but why can't we build anymore refineries?

Because the Republicans in Congress and the White House have not grown a spine yet. Or at least one strong enough to explain to voters it is the Dems and Environmentalists that are more concerned with Caraboo than solving the energy problem and paying $3 at the pump.

Ahh, hell it is just easier to call for investigations every time prices go up.

[Marysecretary]

The environazis put a kibosh on that years ago. It's time we put a kibosh on environazis! Mxxx