$8B green refinery would employ 1,800 in S.D.

[4dsc]

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/06/13/news/latest_news/7c3944108b8586ee862572f90065c2de.txt

Excuse if this has been posted before but the good people of SD are drooling all over themselves over the news of a refinery being built in their state..

A Texas-based energy firm planning to build the first U.S. oil refinery in more than 30 years said today that Union County is a finalist for the $8 billion project.

The refinery, which Hyperion Resources Inc. described as a "green energy technology center,'' would create as many 10,000 construction jobs and employ 1,800 after its completion in four years

'The refinery would turn about 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Canada into ultra-low sulfar gasoline and diesel fuel. Richard Benda, secretary of the South Dakota Department and Tourism and State Development, said the output would meet the combined demands of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Described as the most "environmentally sound energy center in the country,'' the refinery would protect the environment by using cutting-edge technology that would keep carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

"This is not your grandfather's refinery,'' Benda told an audience of more than 200 who packed a community room at the courthouse.

[ixion]

1. the 8bln would better be spent building alternative energy farms in S.D.

in my opinion.

And I would be very suspicious of ANY type of refinery. The impact on the environment around the area (farming and ranching) could be disastrous.

[Deja Q]

2. Until we migrate to other fuels, it's good to see new refineries built.

Hopefully it's not mere tokenism, but it's said we need more refineries or the existing ones repaired, and somebody's doing something about the immediate problem.

[4dsc]

3. And what exactly is the problem you see??

What do you perceive as the problem here both short term and long term that more refineries will resolve??

[NickB79]

4. Boy, will they be surprised when Canadian oil production falls off

Alberta's natural gas production peaked in 2001. Overall Canadian natural gas production has been flat or possibly falling a bit since then. The oil sands that so many are hoping will provide a steady supply of oil in the future are only possible through massive inputs of natural gas. With gas supplies declining, and US demand for natural gas at an all-time high, the oil sands will be squeezed to the point that production may actually decline.

What exactly will this refinery be refining?