BP under gun to expand production, limit pollution

BP, as a public company, has to expand to keep their shareholders happy. If it turns out that BP cannot balance the convenience of expanding a refinery so near Canada, versus the cost of meeting the environmental requirements, then they should and will simply expand/build elsewhere.

However, I think a better response to these NIMBYs is to just move it elsewhere from the get-go. Less hassle for BP, no more pollution for us. Hell, better yet shut down the refinery and build a brand new state of the art facility in a friendlier environment, where there is the space that is apparently lacking here. I'm sure some state would welcome the taxes and jobs. That would eliminate the largest polluter of Lake Michigan. Chicago already has nearly the highest gas prices in the nation. Let us pay for our choice with another ten or twenty cents per gallon, we can be number one! Nation's highest sales tax, highest gas prices... TANSTAAFL.

Mike wrote:

Think a bit. They are at full capacity, or so they say. Now they want to increase profits by releasing more garbage into the water. Wanna bet they do not live anywhere around here? <quoted text>

Why is this the knee-jerk reaction? "Increase profits ... evil corporations!" BP wants to expand their refinery to enable it to process the heavier, dirtier oil that is being extracted from Canada. This isn't the light sweet crude from the middle east. Refining this Canadian oil will result in more waste. BP wants to expand this refinery because it is close to Canada. They refine oil to produce products for us, their customers. If we want fuel that is nearby (cheaper to transport) and that comes from a nearby oil source (not the middle east), then we need to accept that this may result in additional pollution. There is lots of oil left in this world, but it isn't all going to be as easy to extract or clean to refine as that from the middle east and other existing reservoirs.

And I have no problem if "we" decide we don't want the increased pollution in our lake. I really would prefer it if we didn't, I sail and swim there. But again, TANSTAAFL. If the oil needs to be shipped further from Canada to refine it, and then fuel shipped further back to us, it will cost us more. I'm ok with that. I'm not ok with people whining about evil corporations and "profiteering" and expensive fuel, and then whining about building additional refining capacity to sate their demand for fuel. Infants.

OLDADEYO wrote:

WE HUMANS ARE DRAWN TO WATER WHEN IT'S WASTE BEGONE TIME. I WAS FISHING WITH MY PAL A FEW YRS.AGO AND HE NEEDED TO -P- I HEARD SPLASHING AND WHEN I LOOKED AROUND HE WAS STANDING AT THE EDGE OF THE LAKE STREAMING INTO THE WATER,WHY NOT GO ONTO THE GROUND ?
LIKE I SAID BEFORE WE HUMANS ARE DRAWN TO THE WATER. HE WAS FISHING IN THE WATER ABOUT TEN FEET AWAY-DUH-AND A TRUE STORY,I HAVE OFTEN WONDERED -W-H-Y ? AND I STILL DO.

Where do you think the fish pee and crap? You'd love it out on the lake during a sailing regatta, all the guys hanging off the backstays pissing into the lake behind the boats.

Larry wrote:

<quoted text>
Why is this the knee-jerk reaction? "Increase profits ... evil corporations!" BP wants to expand their refinery to enable it to process the heavier, dirtier oil that is being extracted from Canada. This isn't the light sweet crude from the middle east. Refining this Canadian oil will result in more waste. BP wants to expand this refinery because it is close to Canada. They refine oil to produce products for us, their customers. If we want fuel that is nearby (cheaper to transport) and that comes from a nearby oil source (not the middle east), then we need to accept that this may result in additional pollution. There is lots of oil left in this world, but it isn't all going to be as easy to extract or clean to refine as that from the middle east and other existing reservoirs.
And I have no problem if "we" decide we don't want the increased pollution in our lake. I really would prefer it if we didn't, I sail and swim there. But again, TANSTAAFL. If the oil needs to be shipped further from Canada to refine it, and then fuel shipped further back to us, it will cost us more. I'm ok with that. I'm not ok with people whining about evil corporations and "profiteering" and expensive fuel, and then whining about building additional refining capacity to sate their demand for fuel. Infants.

BP cried wolf years ago when they were faced with higher taxes for its Whiting refinery and threatened to move its operations elsewhere if it didn't get a significant tax break. Guess where the tax shortfall was made up? on the property owners, you and me, who had businesses and homes in nw indiana. Property taxes shot up in hammond and whiting and all across lake county, from $500 or so a year to more than $6,000 a year just because BP had a fit about footing their share of taxes.. BP wants it both ways. Sorry this time you're not going to get your way. Either clean up your act or go elsewhere. I had been a BP user but found their gasolines aren't even the best available. Doing research of elite gasolines -- those with detergent cleaning agents for your car -- include Shell, Phillips and Chevron.

Mike, where do you think your gas comes from? Anyone who signed a petition to "stop BP dumping waste" and still drives a car around here is a hypocrite.

You think gas is expensive here - try London, where it's nearly $10/gallon. Or maybe try not driving at all! Less water pollution, less air pollution, less money!

a permit was already issued to BP because they are ALREADY under the required specifications set by the EPA! If you want them to do better then get your lazy government officials to change the specifications by changing the law. Liberal MORONS --- go ahead and keep preventing expansions and new refineries from being built ---and lets not drill for oil here because we need to protect caribou in Alaska--and you can ride your bikes to the few jobs left in this country!!

Does it smell like the Southeast side of Chicago?

Funny thing is I agree with PCC, noname. Except, that I say see ya to BP. I haven't filled up my tank since 2006. I survive.

Biggest excuse I hear is we need gas because we need to get to our jobs.

Stop being a spineless employee and commuting 2+ hours. Say no.

Stop being an old guard manager and let your employee work remote. It will save money, eliminate the need to use fuel. We have the technology. Use it. Have you ever heard of netmeeting, livemeeting? Presenter? The internet?

Stop shopping at the stores that require you to drive. Demand stores and necissities be available in walking distance in your neighbhorhood. It simple urban planning. You would be suprised at how politcal that decision is.

The things is, it is simply a matter of sacrificing and changing your life.

Noname, PPC, i don't know what your stand is per say but I agree with you I think. That while I agree with the LIberal for saying no more pollution, I think we are just as much a part of it as the cosumer. Don't like something, don't buy and live with the consequences, higher gas prices. I am all for that, because, I can change my life to accomodate what I want. I will walk, ride a bike, try to support clean public in our cities. If I can't find work to accomodate that, I will eat rice rather than dine out, save money and wait for an opportunity that fits the ideals I want the future to move in.

I just want to reiterate, I have filled up my tank once since 2006. Wish they had editing features on these posts.

noname wrote:

a permit was already issued to BP because they are ALREADY under the required specifications set by the EPA! If you want them to do better then get your lazy government officials to change the specifications by changing the law. Liberal MORONS --- go ahead and keep preventing expansions and new refineries from being built ---and lets not drill for oil here because we need to protect caribou in Alaska--and you can ride your bikes to the few jobs left in this country!!

Yes lets destroy our abundant natural resources for Oil production. The great lake are the largest source of fresh water in the world it makes a whole lot of sense to contaminate no one will ever need that fresh water in the future.

I haven't spent a dime at BP since they pollution started. Lake Michigan is the life-blood of so many cities and BP is going to ruin it.

Don't shop BP.

Hey what happened to the comments from Scott Free, TED, and the others from this morning?
They haad some interesting thoughts and their posts have disappeared