[gidget7]

They can't, CA and probably NY as well, have much stiffer emission standards, and that makes it difficult to service other states when there are so many different refining standards in play.

[topher]

I was just joking about that.

The problem is that there are only a few places in the country that have clusters of refineries -- New Jersey area, Gulf Coast and California. At least I am not aware of any other major clusters of refineries.

Certainly, nothing compares with the Gulf Coast refineries of Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi -- for capacity.

That is why the SPR (Strategic Petroleum Reserve is there, and it is meant to be tapped by refineries in the Gulf Coast in time of need.

But in this case, it is not a shortage of oil, but refinery capacity...

There are smaller refineries throughout the country...