South Dakota Voters Approve What Could Be First New U.S. Oil Refinery in Decades

AP via Fox News ^ | June 4, 2008

[Kaslin]

ELK POINT, S.D. — Voters in Union County on Tuesday approved rezoning for what would be the first new U.S. oil refinery in more than 30 years.

With all 13 precincts reporting, 3,932 voters, or 58 percent, endorsed their county commission's rezoning of almost 3,300 acres north of Elk Point for the $10 billion refinery while 2,855, or 42 percent, opposed it.

The ballot measure garnered solid support in the southern part of the county, with the Dakota Dunes precinct voting in favor 1,017-237 and the one containing North Sioux City approving the ordinance 492-184.

Most rural precincts strongly rejected the rezoning, but they didn't have the population numbers to overcome support in the county's largest towns.

Also backing the refinery were voters in the city of Alcester and in the city of Elk Point, which hosted several hours-long, controversial public hearings on the project.

Preston Phillips, a project executive for Texas-based Hyperion Resources, said he was ecstatic with the outcome.

"We'll continue to work with everyone in the county," he said. "We want to be a good corporate citizen. We want to be a good corporate neighbor."

[Sacajaweau]

YES!!

[WOBBLY BOB]

in about 10 years and 1000 lawyers, it could happen.

[American Quilter]

A miracle, nothing less.

[ken21]

unbelievable!

[BGHater]

The fastest way to get around this would be to create a partnership with Western Indian reservations and build them there.

I'm guessing that Reservations don't have the EPA and other environmental regulations that we do.

If I'm wrong, I get to learn something new.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Congressional Liberals, out to destroy the American economy, won’t allow it. Neither will the Muslim Messiah.

[count-your-change]

The “Environmental Justice” hurdle will a big one to jump as every opponent will be in court claiming one group is more affected than another.

[CPT Clay]

‘bout time!!!

[CarryingOn]

In 30 years you can change that to read “would be the first new U. S. oil refinery in more than 60 years.”

[driftdiver]

As far as I know the reservations fall under federal law. So they would still get screwed by the environmental laws.

[Michael.SF.]

Let's not get our hopes up too much, too soon:

Hyperion Resources Refinery Timeline:

My industry contacts indicate that no one has been working on the detailed Engineering aspects of this project, thus the "construction" timeline is a bit longer then expected and probably allows time for engineering work.

[mikethevike]

I have a feeling by the time they complete it, we’ll have an array of affordable/practical electric cars.

[aruanan]

This is the one the governor turned down. The voters’ revenge. Let’s hope they vote as soon as possible to run her through the refiners fire of a recall.

[CarryingOn]

A glaring omission in the “timeline” chart. I see the yellow stage, the green stage and the blue stage, they failed to include the very long, dark red stage named lawyers.

[count-your-change]

Imagine the amount of “baksheesh” that would have to passed around to make sure no sacred sites were disturbed, no ancestral spirits offended, and most important of all, a guarantee of construction jobs for tribal members.
Ninety percent of S. Dakota would suddenly discover their Native American roots and want a taste of the plunder.

[vpintheak]

This is dang near where I grew up across the river in Iowa. You can bet your bottom dollar these people are conservative hard-working mid-westerners. Great news!

[dbacks]

This is NOT the only refinery.

See- http://www.arizonacleanfuels.com/

[Michael.SF.]

As a comparison to this Hyperion project you may want to check out the Arizona Clean Fuels Project/Yuma Refinery. Their timeline starts in 2005 and extends through 2011 (you may have to do a google search on "Yuma Refinery Timeline" to find the Power Point presentation). I have been aware of this project since at least 2004.

[dbacks]

I talked to my sister near Elk Point and she said the envirowackos and other agenda groups were filing lawsuits against it already. By the DOZENS. This will be in the courts for years.