Article

2007-05-24 Home Front Economy

Oil Industry Says Biofuel Push May Hurt at Pump

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Posted by Thaque Slugum2296 2007-05-24 08:49|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 There is pain at the pump. I can see where oil industry is not enthused about building refinery capacity if the country is moving towards hybrids, hydrogen fuel-cell cars, electric, and other fuel souces. Damn though, the fuel increases all get passed on to the consumer through higher prices for everything transported.

Posted by JohnQC 2007-05-24 12:28|| 2007-05-24 12:28|| Front Page Top

#2 This is why I am a big advocate of algae biodiesel. It has a lot more energy than ethanol, it can be made about anywhere, and as diesel, retooling and refueling is a LOT cheaper. On top of everything else, its manufacture recycles a LOT of waste CO2 and nitrous oxides.

It beats both hydrogen and ethanol by a lot of miles.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-05-24 13:32|| 2007-05-24 13:32|| Front Page Top

#3 I think this is article is part of a FUD campaign to defuse anger over high gasoline prices and limited refining capacity. "If you threaten to develop alternate auto fuels, we will threaten to continue to limit refining capacity." The existing situation works just fine for the oil industry, whose goal is NOT to supply adequate refined products to the community, but to generate the highest possible profits. An alternate view is that refinery capacity is not being increased since the industry knows world oil production has peaked and will decline in the future.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-05-24 14:43|| 2007-05-24 14:43|| Front Page Top

#4 Oh, and the future of biofuels is extremely limited. There's no way the world can substitute them for more than a small fraction of fossil fuels being consumed. Internal combustion engines will play an ever-decreasing role in transportation as the decades unfold, barring a miracle.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-05-24 14:48|| 2007-05-24 14:48|| Front Page Top

#5 "If you threaten to develop alternate auto fuels, we will threaten to continue to limit refining capacity."

Kinda like the way city council always threatens to close the library and fire cops and teachers when the citizens object to a tax increase...

Posted by Seafarious">Seafarious 2007-05-24 15:27|| 2007-05-24 15:27|| Front Page Top

#6 Actually no new refineries have been built in this country for like 30 years, primarily due to NIMBY and treehugger lawsuits. The only major refinery work permitted anymore is expansion (very limited), improvements, and reconstruction/rebuilding. The state of Oregon has NO refineries whatsoever in it, and every time one is proposed, the treehuggers get it killed. The lack of refinery capacity is one reason that Oregon's gas prices are 5-7 cents a gallon higher than other states, since it is all pumped in from refinery locations, and we get to pay the transportation costs.
About the only way to get a refinery built today would be to have an Indian tribe vote for it and have it built on a reservation.

Posted by Shieldwolf 2007-05-24 16:46|| 2007-05-24 16:46|| Front Page Top

#7 About the only way to get a refinery built today would be to have an Indian tribe vote for it and have it built on a reservation.

Well, would probably work out even better than a cassino.

Posted by twobyfour 2007-05-24 18:30|| 2007-05-24 18:30|| Front Page Top

#8 Curious thing about the refinery situation. The state of New Mexico both produces crude oil & has at least one oil refinery, yet its cost for gasoline is above average. Makes no sense at all.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-05-24 21:03|| 2007-05-24 21:03|| Front Page Top

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