WASHINGTON, DC - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) visited Michigan’s only refinery this week to learn about a new jobs and energy project. Upton and Harris toured the site of Marathon Petroleum Company’s new Detroit Heavy Oil Upgrade Project, a $2.2 billion investment project that will expand the refinery’s ability to process and deliver to market growing Canadian energy supplies. The site visit is one of several conducted by GOP members over the last two weeks as part of an ongoing effort to review how this administration’s policies are affecting American energy production and policy, and to deliver solutions that will expand production, create jobs, and fortify our nation’s energy security.
Marathon Petroleum estimates the project will increase the refinery’s capacity from approximately 106,000 to 120,000 barrels per day and increase the output of clean transportation fuels by more than 400,000 gallons per day. Construction of the project is already underway and is estimated to require up to 1,300 workers a day. Once completed, the project will support approximately 135 new jobs.
“Expansion of the Marathon Petroleum refinery is an American energy and jobs success story. Without spending a dime of taxpayer dollars, the project is creating jobs and will soon help supply Michigan families and businesses with much-needed fuel supplies. This expansion of Michigan’s only refinery represents exactly the type of private sector projects America needs to strengthen our economy and secure our energy future," said Upton.
Canada is the largest oil supplier to the U.S., currently providing more than 2.4 million barrels a day. New technologies have greatly increased Canadian oil production in recent years and U.S. Canadian imports are expected to reach 4 million per day by the end of this decade. Canadian crude is a stable North American energy source that is price competitive, and because of this, refiners like Marathon Petroleum are investing in the technology needed to process this abundant resource. U.S. refiners depend on reliable crude oil supplies to manufacture fuel for America. But without the proper pipeline infrastructure, projects like Marathon’s DHOUP would not be successful. President Obama’s decision to block - and continue to lobby against - construction of the Keystone XL pipeline means America is losing out on an opportunity to bring more Canadian oil supplies to other U.S. refiners so we can create jobs, fuel our economy, and help reduce our dependence on Middle East oil. And today’s news that efforts are underway in Canada to construct new pipelines that will allow greater exports to Asia mean that America is at risk of losing access to these secure, affordable supplies.
