Local Politicians Feel Oil Refineries In Area At Risk Again
By David Madden
TRAINER, Pa. (CBS) - Two local politicians suggest a federal regulation could put local refineries, and the jobs they create, at risk.
Congressman Pat Meehan, joined by Senator Pat Toomey, toured the Monroe Energy Refinery, which was saved from shutdown after Delta Airlines bought it to cut its jet fuel costs. That's happened big time over the last year, preserving some 700 jobs according to Meehan:
"They turned this second oldest refinery in the United States and made it profitable except for one thing, and there are these renewable energy standards."
Adopted eight years ago, they require ethanol to be blended into gasoline and diesel fuel. They can, and have, affected prices at the pump, and in the grocery store for corn.
Both men want to have the standards repealed, but concede that getting that done will be tough, given those standards are helping to keep corn prices high.
They're hoping to curb the rules a bit to reduce their effect on the oil industry.
