Build More Refineries, Not Data Centers I’ve been looking at the difference between building more refineries and building more data centers, and the case for refineries keeps getting stronger when I focus on what actually helps working-class families. A new or expanded refinery does two things at once that matter to regular people. First, it adds permanent, high-paying jobs. Operators, technicians, maintenance workers, and the contractors who support them earn total compensation that is often well above average, with overtime, shift pay, strong benefits, and in many cases traditional pensions alongside 401(k) plans. Those wages and benefits stay in the local economy. One direct refining job supports a large number of other jobs through suppliers, logistics, and everyday spending. That is real income for households that need it. Second, more refining capacity increases the supply of gasoline, diesel, and other fuels. When domestic supply is tighter, prices at the pump stay higher....
