We haven't built a new refinery in America in 30 friggin' years...
We have numerous refineries in our backyards here in LA LA land and we have the highest gas prices in the country. Of course, that may just be a price-fixing ploy by the oil companies to maximize profit in a large market.
and you should know why we have the highest prices...
it's called supply & demand...
just turn on your television and look at the cars lined up back to back on the freeways from SF to SD.
gas stations make a dime a gallon and it's still cheaper than milk and cheaper than what we were paying in the 80's(adjusted for inflation)
btw we have fewer refineries today than we had 5 years ago