The return of the refinery: after several decades without any new refineries, two plans are moving forward in Texas.
David Hunn reports on plans for a new refinery in Pecos County, Texas—if completed, it would be the first new refinery in decades.
"MMEX Resources Corp., a company that used to explore and produce oil and gas, closed on Friday on 126 acres in Pecos County near Fort Stockton for construction of a 15-acre, 10,000 barrel-per-day crude distillation plant," according to Hunn. "The distillation plant is just the first phase of MMEX’s plans to build a larger-scale, $450 million, 50,000-barrel-per-day refinery on the site. The company plans to buy 350 acres adjacent to the first 126 for the larger refinery."
The company hopes to file this week for environmental permits. MMEX isn't the only company looking to expand the oil industry's footprint in the state. Jordan Blum reported in December that Raven Petroleum has similar plans for a location east of Laredo.
FULL STORY: MMEX closes on acreage for new Texas refinery, first in decades
Royal Dutch Shell: Big Oil with a Conscience?
Big Oil companies are not all alike. Royal Dutch Shell is the first one to part ways with a major oil industry trade group over differences on climate change. It's also linking executive pay to goals to reduce the company's carbon footprint.
Who's Advocating Rolling Back Fuel Economy Standards?
Conventional thinking is that the auto industry, wanting to sell more fuel-gulping SUVs, are pushing for weaker fuel economy standards, but Hiroko Tabuchi, climate reporter for The New York Times, exposes Big Oil's stealth campaign.
Plugging the Gap: Taxpayers Shoulder the Burden of Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells
Taxpayers, federal agencies, and tribal governments are working to address Arizona's orphaned oil and gas wells, which pose environmental and health risks, while advocates call for greater accountability from oil and gas companies.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
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Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
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