Not sure I "fear" rationing, but it's a reasonable concern from some
of the stuff I've read, based on refinery operating capacities...
Operable Capacity, March '08
17,594 (bbls per day)
Operating
17,222
Idle
372
That March monthly snap shot hasn't changed much over the past
several months.
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pe..._dcu_nus_m.htm
No company has built a new refinery in decades, the rules and hoops to jump through are
draconian, and no one wants one in their "backyard".