Cushing faces chance of landing one of largest oil refineries in the country
Published: Wed, 10/12/22
GRA Note: Victoria TX is the other leading candidate
Cushing faces chance of landing one of largest oil refineries in the country
It’s one of two potential sites for a $5.5 billion facility that could bring in jobs and big money.
KOCO News5
Jason Burger
Reporter
October 11, 2022
The city of Cushing is facing a chance of landing one of the largest new oil refineries in the country. It’s one of two potential sites for a $5.5 billion facility that could bring in jobs and big money.
City leaders like their chances, but they have to compete with Texas to get it. If it’s built, it’ll be the largest employer in town, which comes with lots of planning. "I think what makes us the right choice is our proximity to the oil market," said Terry Brannon, city manager of Cushing.
Leaders said the town’s existing pipelines across the country make it perfect for a new Southern Rock Energy Refinery. "Every major oil company in America and Canada have assets here in our community," Brannon said.
The city is up against Victoria County, Texas to land the new refinery. While the idea is exciting, Cushing would have to make changes to accommodate over 420 new employees and their families."You begin to at sewer, you look at water, and you look at power," Brannon sad.
The other question is where would they all live? City staff said they’ve done studies and talked with a developer in Edmond on how to bring in more houses and living options. "We are very landlocked, in terms of our land availability. So, single-family housing would be the first challenge we would have," Brannon said.
KOCO 5 was told the average salary of refinery employees would be over $93,000 a year, but it’s too far out to know the financial impact on the city.
“Based on the cost projections, which is hundreds of millions of dollars, we don’t have a good grasp of what would be required of the city,” Brannon said.
The last time Cushing had an active refinery was decades ago: The Old Hudson Refinery. "That was the last active refinery we had in Cushing, in the early ’80s," Brannon said.
If Cushing is chosen, the refinery would be built on the south end of the city, but a specific location hasn’t been picked out. It’s not clear when Southern Rock Energy partners will make a final decision.