Small Oil Refineries Pull Support For Climate Change Bill

The Hill reports that small oil refineries -- once a strong ally of the climate change bill -- are now withdrawing their support for the legislation.

Small refineries -- those that employ fewer than 1,500 workers and produce less than 205,000 barrels of gasoline daily -- previously backed the legislation in the House, but in recent days many in the small refinery lobby have voiced concerns over the legislation and are resisting sweeping reform.

From the Hill:

Glen Gonzalez, whose company AGE Refining signed the House letter, said small refiners "remain deeply concerned that what the House has offered is not nearly enough."

"We agreed only that the legislative process should move forward, with a view toward working subsequently with the Senate. We did not agree to support H.R. 2454," Gonzalez, the CEO and owner of AGE, wrote in response to questions submitted by The Hill.

Small refineries broke with the the rest of the oil industry to support the legislation because House Democrats included a provision in the bill that would mean billions of dollars to small refineries. In return, oil executives gave millions of dollars in contributions to Democratic lawmakers.