Union County Voters have a approved plans to rezone land for what could become the nation's first new oil refinery in decades. 

A new oil refinery in South Dakota is one step closer to reality, and Mark Madeja with triple A says it's a decision that could eventually affect what you pay at the pump. 

Mark Madeja says, "It would make the oil product less expensive because it would be much closer to it's source of origin."

Right now, the fuel that goes into your gas tank is shipped 600 miles from Tulsa Oklahoma. You essentially have to pay for every mile the product is shipped. When oil is more expensive to ship the price of gas goes up, leaving you feeling pain at the pumps.

In 1995, Americans burned 17-million gallons of gasoline per day more than the United States produced, forcing us to import oil from foreign countries... today that consumption has more than doubled. 

With consumption of foreign oil still on the rise, the ability to refine closer to home and will likely have a big impact.
Madeja says if we can control our oil and keep it in the United States we'll be able to see the price of gas start to level off. 

Madeja says, "Somebody else is driving right now and that's a dangerous place to be."

And after more than 30 years without a new refinery, Madeja says it's time we start curbing the appetite we have for foreign oil. And, having one in the state will allow South Dakotans to reap the benefits.

A Hyperion executive said the Elk Point area still is not the only site being considered and that the site selection process will continue. They are hoping to break ground at their chose site by 20-10.