Quote:
Originally posted by NJTackle
Has the cost of refining fuel really sky rocketed in proportion to the increases we see at the pump today?
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Um, probably not if they could do it the "old way"......but you have to remember, refining oil today is a lot different than it was 20 years ago.....one you can thank the wonderful
government for.....aside from the gasoline producers having to meet this regulation, and that regulation, and the other regulation (which all differ state to state) to provide a "cleaner" product for cars to burn, they also have to produce it in accordance with the Clean Air Act, meaning different techniques and equipment such that they don't "pollute" the air in manufacture.
Not that is necessarily a bad thing, but it does contribute to the cost, and unfortunately, the Clean Air Act puts many un-necessary burdens, that actually do very little to achieve the goal, on the refineries. Meanwhile, there are better and cheaper ways to make fuel and still keep the air clean, but the government has not "mandated" them, and so, money is wasted, and the cost passed along to us.
In addition, distillation columns consume fuel to make fuel, so as the price of energy, in general, rises, so does the cost of producing it......