Why Not a Brownfield for a Green Hyperion Refinery?
While here in the Kansas Oil Patch with my father who used to work in the Kansas Oil Patch, we've had quite a view discussions about the oil patch.
I learned today from Rodney that a former boss of mine is working with a group to redevelop the 21st Street industrial area of Wichita where there is an old MBPLX meet packing plant--and guess what!--an old Derby oil refinery.
The Derby site, like the previously mentioned Augusta site (and another in El Dorado, the former home of the Pester refinery) are already "brownfields." In other words, contaminated.
So, why does it make sense to tear up some of the best farm land in the USA in Union County, put a refinery there, and pollute another big plot of ground? There are plenty of former refinery sites right here in Kansas. They also have the infrastructure in place right now to hook into oil crude lines. They also have a trained work force.
Expand the search of brownfields across the nation and there are probably tens if not hundreds of similar sites. Even a green refinery is a messy business. That's just the nature of hydrocarbons.
Why not redevelop a former refinery site that already needs cleaning up rather than polluting productive farm land?
Like I've said, I'm undecided about a refinery in Union County. I understand the need for oil and refined products and even refineries. But I don't count myself as a fan of Hyperion. And I don't understand making a new mess before cleaning up an old one. My momma taught me that.
Technorati Tags: Gorilla Project, Hyperion, Union County, Elk Point, South Dakota, oil refineries, brownfields
I learned today from Rodney that a former boss of mine is working with a group to redevelop the 21st Street industrial area of Wichita where there is an old MBPLX meet packing plant--and guess what!--an old Derby oil refinery.
The Derby site, like the previously mentioned Augusta site (and another in El Dorado, the former home of the Pester refinery) are already "brownfields." In other words, contaminated.
So, why does it make sense to tear up some of the best farm land in the USA in Union County, put a refinery there, and pollute another big plot of ground? There are plenty of former refinery sites right here in Kansas. They also have the infrastructure in place right now to hook into oil crude lines. They also have a trained work force.
Expand the search of brownfields across the nation and there are probably tens if not hundreds of similar sites. Even a green refinery is a messy business. That's just the nature of hydrocarbons.
Why not redevelop a former refinery site that already needs cleaning up rather than polluting productive farm land?
Like I've said, I'm undecided about a refinery in Union County. I understand the need for oil and refined products and even refineries. But I don't count myself as a fan of Hyperion. And I don't understand making a new mess before cleaning up an old one. My momma taught me that.
Technorati Tags: Gorilla Project, Hyperion, Union County, Elk Point, South Dakota, oil refineries, brownfields
Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2008
by
Todd Epp
in Energy/Gas Prices, Environment, Gorilla Project
|
2 Comments
Todd Epp
in Energy/Gas Prices, Environment, Gorilla Project
|
2 Comments
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Reader Comments (2)
Todd:
Common sense! You are correct, clean up or reuse the mess you have already created, prior to making a new one. We need to think of creative solutions to our energy needs, not continue the same old behavior. (What was the definition of insanity?)
Jeff
Skippy....
How do you sleep at night worrying about things like this that you cannot change?
The Company picked Union Count, and Union County voted to welcome them. Game over......
Just because the outcome is not what you want, The whining about it is not a good look for you.
And for the record, I would bet the farm that the refinery, if it is ever built in Union County will not be Hyperion's. I am guessing that they will fall apart and a couple fire sales later, one of your most hated of the big oil companies will own it. But, if I had to bet right now...the refinery will never become a reality in Union County..
So go do something productive and stop whining.
.