If you don't have a refinery operating, it's hard to use oil that's available.

[Just about the only thing about which both sides agree is that the recent run-up in oil prices, which began well before Hurricane Katrina, has been caused because demand for oil - spurred by growth in China, the generally healthy economic condition of the Western world, and other factors - has caught up with supply.] The world produces about 85 million barrels a day, ... That's where demand is now, too. And I've seen forecasts that demand is going to be higher than that by the end of the year.

There is no free market for oil.

If you don't have a refinery operating, it's hard to use oil that's available.

Big Oil is a club, and they'll do everything to keep me out.

It's important to understand that oil and renewables do different things. Wind and solar are for power generation, so they don't replace oil. About 70% of all oil produced is used for transportation fuel. Renewables are good projects, but they don't get us off of foreign oil.