BP trying to supply more gasoline

[Fan in Chicago]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080729/bp_refinery.html?.v=1

 

So BP is planning an expansion to process more Canadian crude (reduces reliance on sources in politically unstable areas), complies with environmental laws (but is being held to a higher standard), wants to spend some of the 'windfall profits' (read: more jobs) and produce more gasoline (to relieve any supply issues in the Midwest). However, it is creating a firestorm between groups in Indiana and Illinois about who will be the first to stop this expansion. What gives ?

[Sen. John Blutarsky]

Well given that BP literally just got booted out of Russia I'd imagine they are looking for other options.

 

NIMBYs are everywhere. There's a reason we havent increased refining capacity since the 70's. Envirnmental laws ar eone, NIMBYs are the other. This is what representative government is supposed to be for. Of course the people who live right near there will oppose the plant. But if it's in the best interests of the public at large the needs of the many are supposed to outweigh that. That got flipped aorund somewhere so that the needs of the few outweigh theneeds of the many, hence no refineries, no new nuclear palnts in 25 years, no drilling, no windmills, no solar farms. People don't want ANYTHING, it doens't matter what it is. At some point we need to just do it, do it as cleanly as reasoanbly possible and tell people to shut up about it. Especially in this case. They are expanding an existing plant which has been there forever. If you live near it it was probably there before you were and that was a bad move on your part.

[ExiledInIllinois]

Well given that BP literally just got booted out of Russia I'd imagine they are looking for other options.

 

NIMBYs are everywhere. There's a reason we havent increased refining capacity since the 70's. Envirnmental laws ar eone, NIMBYs are the other. This is what representative government is supposed to be for. Of course the people who live right near there will oppose the plant. But if it's in the best interests of the public at large the needs of the many are supposed to outweigh that. That got flipped aorund somewhere so that the needs of the few outweigh theneeds of the many, hence no refineries, no new nuclear palnts in 25 years, no drilling, no windmills, no solar farms. People don't want ANYTHING, it doens't matter what it is. At some point we need to just do it, do it as cleanly as reasoanbly possible and tell people to shut up about it. Especially in this case. They are expanding an existing plant which has been there forever. If you live near it it was probably there before you were and that was a bad move on your part.

 

Exactly.

 

Look at BP and how they wanted to up discharge into Lake Michigan which would have still fell BELOW standards.

[Fan in Chicago]

People don't want ANYTHING, it doens't matter what it is. At some point we need to just do it, do it as cleanly as reasoanbly possible and tell people to shut up about it. Especially in this case. They are expanding an existing plant which has been there forever. If you live near it it was probably there before you were and that was a bad move on your part.

Just to set the record straight - I am totally in favor of this expansion. Both from a pragmatic point of view and selfish (my company will do most of the work ).

 

And you are right - people just want cheap & abundant gasoline and power. If they don't get it, they want the gubmint to make it so and blame the oil companies for making ... gasp.... high profits.