Post Carbon Fellow Anthony Perl was interviewed for a story in the Global News about how additional capacity to refine oil in British Columbia could affect gas prices. The story begins with BC Premier John Horgan, who suggested that construction of new oil refineries would lower gas prices in the province. Perl countered by questioning the logic of adding capacity at a time when we need to move away from fossil fuels.  He said, “Sooner or later, we are going to be using a lot less oil, so if they [the refineries] have to be paid for — big bucks in a short period of time — that’s going to be reflected in the price.”

From the article:

As Vancouverites face record-high gas prices, B.C. Premier John Horgan has suggested investing in the province’s oil-refining capacity.

“I’ve been advocating that we take those natural resources… refine that product so we can bring prices down in British Columbia,” Horgan said.

But some analysts say it’s clear that the fossil fuel industry is in its twilight years and there simply isn’t enough time for an investor to recover the huge cost of building a refinery that can handle the environmental and technical challenges of heavy bitumen oil.

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