IF Congress substantially relaxed regulations on new refineries, and IF the NIMBY attitudes could be overcome, oil companies would still have little incentive to build a new refinery. Expanding capacity of existing refineries makes a lot more sense.
That's why refiners aren't launching a public opinion campaign to build new refineries.
I appreciate that take on the situation.
Expansion of existing refineries may get us thru the near-term pinch we are in, or maybe not. The hurdles to do even that are staggering.