Veeeery lineal logic. You can hardly call energy a free market when it's one of the most regulated industries in existence. Additionally, isn't driving up gas prices a Green thing? Don't the regulations imposed on energy companies require a bunch of their dirty, dirty profits go toward conservation and ecological efforts?
Ok... so I'm not going to go all the way with that and suggest this is good, but is it simple corporate fat-cat "greed?" No. Why do we need so many refineries anyway?
Boutique Blends. In America, the regional requirements for what gas is remains the biggest driver of price at the pump. Politicians, not corporate fat-cats, are responsible for the corn in midwest gas and the aromatherapeutic benefits you receive from huffing gas in Hollywood.
You cannot expect civic responsibilty from a company that is subject to constant civil threat. Sorry. The idea that Shell should sell off it's most productive refinery to it's competition is just silly. If they've decided it's got to go, for whatever reason, then it's their option to demolish it. Maybe their decision is based on more than simply driving the pump price up by shorting the supply. There's definitely more to it than the article suggests...
Hybrid Mode
