A crowd enveloped a bus. Daredevils scaled greased light poles. Someone started lighting fireworks. That was the scene outside Lincoln Financial Field as boisterous Eagles fans celebrated their 38-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The celebration was much-needed, because Philadelphia was losing elsewhere.
Thirty minutes into that game, and three miles away from the stadium, workers at the oil refinery owned by Philadelphia Energy Solutions had been informed that their jobs were in jeopardy.
Reuters reported Sunday that the company will soon file for bankruptcy, that its 1,100 employees might need to start looking for a new line of work. Those jobs were secure for years — the refinery was the largest oil refining complex on the East Coast.
Where can the soon-to-be unemployed direct their anger? Farmers in flyover country and bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.
The refinery is going broke, Reuters reports, largely because of the government. Since 2012, Philadelphia Energy Solutions has spent $800 million to comply with the Renewable Fuels Standard, which forces refiners to blend a certain amount of biofuels into the fuel supply or to purchase credits. Complying with this regulation was the refiner’s second-biggest cost after purchasing the actual crude oil to refine.
The Eagles will head to the Super Bowl the first Sunday of February. Hopefully the team can bring back a win. Philadelphia is going to need it.
