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The downstream segment encompasses refineries and petrochemical manufacturing facilities that process crude oil and natural gas liquids into finished products. There are 131 operable refineries in the United States that manufacture essential energy products, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

The midstream segment moves and stores feedstocks and finished products — including fuels, natural gas, natural gas liquids and petrochemical products — using an integrated system of pipelines, ports and waterways, railroads, roadways and storage facilities.

Members of the upstream segment explore for and extract crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs). Crude oil and NGLs are used as feedstocks to produce fuels and petrochemicals, and in some cases directly as sources of energy and natural gas is used as a source of energy.

California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulation is in the news again and you might have some questions. Below is an overview of the California policy and whether or not EPA has to affirmatively grant California’s waiver requests.

Congress has an opportunity to overturn EPA’s December 2024 decision allowing California to ban sales of new gas, diesel and traditional hybrid vehicles. Why should elected officials support the CRA?

There are hundreds of varieties of crude oil around the world. Different types of oil require different refining processes to make the fuels we need in the quantities we need. Many American refineries need heavier crudes than what is largely produced in the United States.

About 60% of the crude oil that runs through U.S. refineries is extracted right here at home. However, our refineries run on many different types of crude oil, some of which we don’t produce here or can’t economically transport. In those cases, we use imports.

The federal government is considering levying a range of tariffs on products imported into the United States, potentially including a 25% blanket tariff on all items imported from our North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico. If such tariffs were to include crude oil and refined products, the consequences could be significant.

Pundits and politicians often frame energy technologies like solar generation and liquid fuels as competitors, not companions. But a visit to Flint Hills Resources’ Pine Bend refinery might change their minds.