Refiners are being squeezed

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | May 9, 2012 | By Charles T. Drevna

[Oldeconomybuyer]

America’s petroleum refiners manufacture safe, proven and reliable high-quality fuels and other products in an environmentally responsible manner to keep America moving, our economy growing, our citizens employed and our nation secure.

But refiners are being squeezed by costly government overregulation, foreign competition, high oil prices and reduced fuel demand.

A recent report by the Department of Energy found the compounded burden of federal regulations was a significant factor in the closing of 66 oil refineries in the United States in the past 20 years, wiping out thousands of jobs. Two money-losing refineries in the Philadelphia area are threatened with permanent closure, while a third that shut down last year will be reopened after it was recently purchased by Delta Airlines.

American refiners spent $112 billion on environmental improvements just from 1990 to 2008 and continue to invest in high-tech emissions control systems to reduce impacts on the environment. While many of these changes have achieved big reductions in emissions, they have raised energy costs and have put American refineries at a competitive disadvantage against foreign counterparts not faced with such costly regulations.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

So a DOE report says the DOE is overregulating energy producers. It's time for congress to get their Reagan back.

[G Larry]

Fire Obama, Fire the entire EPA hierachy, cut the EPA budget by 80%, and quit passing EPA levied fines through to the EPA.