What keeps oil companies from simply building more refineries to meet rising American demands?

Simple question.


Gas is already topping $3 a gallon and summer hasn't fully hit yet. We don't have enough refineries to produce enough gas so we have to import it, which drives up costs.


So it begs the question above? Why don't we just build more refineries?What keeps oil companies from simply building more refineries to meet rising American demands?
It's political because refineries pollute the environment and nobody wants them in their backyard. Also, why would oil companies want to shell out millions to lower the price of their product? They want to keep the price high so their execs can keep eating their caviar and fly their gold-plated jets.What keeps oil companies from simply building more refineries to meet rising American demands?
democrats, greenpeace, and a bunch of communists groups that want to ruin the American economy.





So get ready for your mud hut Al Gore wants you to live in. you'll even get a out house, and dirt floors. Think of it as camping.
$$$. Why would they want to spend money to build more refineries, which in turn would lower gas prices? That would be a double blow to their bottom line.
They don't want to build more refineries so they can charge more for gas. It's an excellent example of the theory of supply and demand.
we don't have a surplus of oil in the states for starters. we can't build more refineries anyway because of environmental policy. having the major oil surplus overseas gives the middle east the upperhand in importing. the oil company's aren't complaining though because its more money in their pockets.
Cause they are all greedy yuppies. Plus the US wants to conserve the oil we have. I read a while back that we have enough gasoline stored to run the entire US for 1 year
Refineries are dirty and nobody wants them in their town.