Oil Refineries at Ex-Military Bases

My Way News reports Under pressure over high energy prices, President Bush on Wednesday will propose tackling the root causes of the problem by encouraging new oil refineries be built at closed military bases and jumpstarting construction of new nuclear power plants.

In a speech, Bush will also propose giving federal regulators the lead authority to decide where to locate terminals for processing imported natural gas. States have increasingly been taking the lead on this issue.

And the president will propose adding vehicles that use clean-burning diesel fuel to the list of automobiles eligible for $2.5 billion in tax credits over 10 years to encourage further use of this technology. Other eligible vehicles are hybrids powered by gasoline and electricity and fuel-cell vehicles.

James Wolcott blogged Here was an opportunity for President Bush to "think green" for a change. Or at least think unplutocratically, just for the kicky novelty of it. He could have proposed that a few of the military bases facing closure be converted into nature preserves or bird sanctuaries. But that would have been enlightened, ungreedy, and civic-minded.

And it would have done NOTHING to solve our energy problems

Instead, true to form, dedicated to the destruction of a livable environment for future generations, Bush is trying to boost his sagging poll numbers and beautify the landscape by jamming oil refineries and nuclear plants where the barracks and PXs used to be.

Actually he is proposing the new oil refineries be built at closed military bases, which would solve the NIMBY (not in my back yard) complaints about building oil refineries in their back yard. We have not built a new refinery since the 1970s. He is proposing jumpstarting the constructiion of new nuclear power plants, which will help us reduce the amount of oil we import, and they dont put out greenhouse gasses.

He seems determined to ensure that his presidential legacy consists of little more than lies, lost opportunities, and ravagement.

Jeff Quinton blogged The lack of adequate refining capacity is frequently cited by experts as one reason why gasoline prices have surged dramatically in recent years. No new refineries have been built in recent years even though the demand for gasoline has risen.

Precisely