05 February 2014

Hump Day

After an inauspicious start to my day (dentist/teeth cleaning), I note that one of our two oil refineries will be closing.
The Flint Hills oil refinery in North Pole will reduce operations over the next several months and then shut down, and the company is blaming the high cost of doing business in Alaska and expensive issues with contamination that it says it inherited from the prior owner.

Flint Hill Resources Alaska LLC announced Tuesday it would shut down one of its two remaining units on May 1, ending its production of gasoline, and will shutter the second unit no later than June 1, ending production of jet fuel and other products. Two other units had closed earlier.

The refinery closure will cost the Fairbanks North Star Borough a top employer and taxpayer and Stevens Anchorage International Airport one source of locally produced jet fuel.

Since we're already paying the price equivalent of imported California gasoline, it's hoped the impact on drivers will be minimal.

* * * * *

Then there's this:

Alaska moved one big step closer Tuesday to a public vote on legalizing marijuana.
On Tuesday, a ballot initiative campaign to decriminalize and regulate pot reached the signature threshold necessary under state election law to put the issue on the Aug. 19 primary ballot.

If the measure passes, Alaska would become the third state in the nation, after Colorado and Washington, to allow cannabis for recreational use.

It's starting to look like I shoulda stayed in bed...

12 comments:

PioneerPreppy said...

Hmmmm are Alaskan taxes high? Those seem like pretty general reasons. Kinda like a politician would give.

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Build a refinery in my back yard? No you don't.

Rev. Paul said...

No, Preppy, they're not - generally speaking. I don't know what the mil rate is on property taxes in the borough where the refinery is located. What the owner refers to as the "high cost of doing business" is mostly shipping costs, because of the distances involved in transport.

Rev. Paul said...

I wouldn't mind, particularly, if the price of gas would come down accordingly.

Bob said...

I seem to recall that Alaska had legal pot back in the 1970's, am I misremembering?

Rev. Paul said...

It was legal to be in possession of less-than-an-ounce for personal use, but not to buy or sell. This bill would legalize it, regulate it, and tax it like tobacco.

Sandy Livesay said...

Rev. Paul,
I hope all went well at the dentist.
On the news this morning, I heard someone is trying to get it passed to make marijuana use on personal property legal in DC too.

Rev. Paul said...

Sandy, the marijuana initiative is all part of the socialist agenda for what's left of the USA.

ProudHillbilly said...

Unalaska Blotter about to become even more interesting...

Rev. Paul said...

I hadn't thought of that, PH ... you're right. They'd better use some of that tax money for add'l officers, no?

Cathy said...


Some days . . I don't even look at the headlines. Depends on my mood. Of course if we were all smoking pot . . I guess we just wouldn't care.
See? The left is fixing the world's problems - one state at a time.
Depressing.

Rev. Paul said...

Perhaps, Cathy, but I choose to believe God's promises - and He's not through with us yet!