Increased refinery runs, based on growth in both capacity and utilization, have helped accommodate gains in U.S. crude oil production. That production averaged 8.7 million barrels/day in 2014, 3.2 million barrels more than in 2010.For years, the U.S. petroleum industry was criticized by consumers, federal authorities and foreign crude oil suppliers for not expanding refinery capacity. In some cases, the disapproval even came from some in the petroleum business, although their complaint was centered on the regulatory costs associated with building a new facility. As we heard many times in the mid-2000s, there hadn't been a new refinery in the U.S. since the late 1970s or early 1980s. To accommodate demand, most U.S. refineries have been oper...

TAGS – Biofuels, Energy, North America