Analyst says Chevron refinery may shut down

[pahoated]

All the gasoline and most of the diesel in Hawaii comes from imported foreign oil distilled at two refineries on Oahu, Tesoro and Chevron. Tesoro is shutting down in April after no buyers. Now, an oil industry analyst thinks the Chevron refinery may shut down in 2015. This will mean Hawaii will have to import refined gasoline and diesel at even higher costs than the imported oil is costing now. There is a rapid movement to start importing LNG (liquified natural gas) but this isn't immediately feasible for rapid transportation conversion. Also, due to the Jones Act, the surplus of natural gas on the mainland may not be available, so more expensive natural gas from Australia will have to be imported. The loss of the Chevron refinery may be an economic disaster for Hawaii, with gasoline and diesel possibly doubling in cost, with the subsequent effects to transportation costs, food, construction, goods, etc. The thumb twiddling inertia approach to energy sources in Hawaii means it may be too late to avoid what is coming.

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/...dicts.html
East-West senior fellow predicts Chevron will close Hawaii refinery by 2015

"It was a majority decision to descend into the Dark Ages. Don't worry, be happy, bang on da drum all day!"