[Smogger]

Still, like a millionaire who won the lottery, Exxon is almost embarrassed by how much money it is making. The company took out full page ads in newspapers, saying its profit is not out of line with other industries.

Exxon Mobil reported earnings of $9.9 billion, $1.58 per share, up 75% from the same quarter a year ago. The profit is more than what Microsoft reported in first-quarter sales after the bell today. Put it another way. The company earned $4.48 million an hour in profit during the quarter.

Big Oil: We don't need no more stinking refineries. We like the few that we have JUST FINE!

[xzins]

See #12.

You raise a good point. With those kind of profits what exactly is big oil's impetus for building new refineries?