Thursday, February 11, 2010

Tesoro2Go

"A pioneer of oil refining in Alaska, Tesoro Alaska is a regional oil refinery and refined petroleum products marketing unit of Tesoro Corporation. The unit manages Tesoro Corporation's and Alaska's first oil refinery, at Kenai. The 72,000 barrels-a-day refinery produces gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, heavy oils, bunker fuels, and liquid asphalt, as well as distillates (jet fuel, diesel fuel, and heating oil). The plant's primary product is jet fuel for Anchorage International Airport, located 70 miles from the refinery. A 40,000-barrels-per-day pipeline connects the refinery with the airport. The Kenai refinery also supplies gasoline and diesel to about 90 Tesoro-branded retail outlets in Alaska." (citation)
So why the F am I paying $3.59/gallon here when it's $2.85 in San Francisco? We get to enjoy the paranoid thoughts that accompany a jet fuel plant in your backyard, as well as the eyesore, but none of the benefits. Unless you count cancer and three-eyed babies because I'm pretty sure it's only a matter of time before an Erin Brockovich movie is made about this place. It's pretty creepy the way ConocoPhillips sponsors all the Little Leagues and puts on these huge company picnics. Maybe there's nothing to worry about but I can't help but wonder, what are the environmental effects of these refineries?
Note to self: Go purchase a replacement filter for your Brita already!

2 comments:

little sister said...

That's why they give you the check at the end of the year. It is the extra money you have been paying for gas coming back to you

Karyn said...

or is it to help cover the cost of medical care?