Originally Posted by Sly

http://money.cnn.com/2001/05/17/comp...ergy/index.htm

This is an older article but it touches some good points that I'm sure still hold true. The government and environmental agencies have placed a lot of regulations and red tape regarding oil refineries. It isn't profitable enough for companies to run the risk of creating more refineries. The public wants laws and restrictions that control how the energy industry works, when they start feeling the impact they get upset and blame the energy industry instead of finding out WHY things are the way they are.