Gas was $2.95 per gallon at noon yesterday (87 octane unleaded, in Canton). It was $3.19 five hours later.
What the hell?!?!?!
A 25 cent per gallon increase…what is the given excuse this time? The explosion at a refinery? A refinery that, btw, produces 70,000 barrels per day?
70,000 barrels per day. How big is that? Well, a look at the list of “largest refineries” shows 22 refineries world wide with over production capacities of over 300,000 per day. As a matter of fact, that same list shows this refinery that suffered the explosion wasn’t even among the Top 20 in TEXAS ALONE!!!
So let me get this straight: one of the smallest refineries in Texas has an explosion and our gas goes up 9% in one day?
Nah, they’re not greedy.
UPDATE: Just got back from Iowa, on Friday, the 22nd, at 10pm. Gas in Iowa? $2.89 per gallon on Interstate 80. Oh, did I mention, that Illinois’ tax-per gallon rate is actually LOWER than Iowa’s?
We’re getting ripped off here, fellow Illinoisans. Period.
9 responses so far ↓
1
mortonmalaise
// Feb 25, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Last I checked, it was still in the $2.30-$2.50 a gallon range somewhere west of Iowa, maybe the Dakotas or Nebraska.
2
Brad Carter
// Feb 28, 2008 at 3:32 pm
just so you know, there is a large state subsity in Iowa for all fuel that contains even 10% ethanol. The more ethanol, the larger the state subsity. I believe, if memory is correct, 90/10 has a $.35 subsity.
3
Cory
// Feb 29, 2008 at 5:50 pm
So the government of Iowa is supporting an alternative fuel that actually uses more additional energy than it saves. Not to mention all of the people starving because ethanol has driven the price of corn up to make the farmers happy. Good thing they have a clear concious because they’re burning a “cleaner” fuel.
4
BJ Stone
// Feb 29, 2008 at 11:01 pm
From what I understand, ethanol has potential to be more efficient than straight 100% petroleum. It’s in it’s infancy as a fuel. I’d like to give science time to develop better ethanol, bio-diesel, hell, whatEVER it takes to lessen our dependence on petroleum and bite into the corporate right-wing-supported greed of the oil men.
And of course, like anything else, it depends on who you talk to as to how efficient or inefficient an alternative fuel is. Remember how much money the oil lobby has, they can pretty much put out whatever mis-information they can. Ask Preston Tucker.
5
reno
// Mar 2, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Here’s a scientific perspective for you: My father in law is a senior meteorologist for the National Weather Service. He has been involved in research that shows which shows a direct correlation between excessive corn growth and severe weather. Apparently, corn affects the dew point far more than other crops (say, soybeans for instance). This, in turn, apparently affect the weather. Tell that to the conservative assholes who says man has no effect on the environment! And no, he’s not a Republican.
It’s another knock against Ethanol. I think it’s a piece of shit technology. It’s environmentally detrimental and costly. Sure, it pays well to greedy farmers. Doesn’t do much for the rest of us.
If you want to break our addiction to oil, you need to lobby the auto industry, not the energy industry. How long have we been using the combustion engine? Isn’t it time we ought to move on from this dated technology?
Sure, we need cleaner, more efficient, longer-lasting fuel. But we also need equipment that can use it.
6
Brad Carter
// Mar 2, 2008 at 8:33 pm
just so you know, the corn growers lobby is the second biggest (through spending) lobby group, just behind the oil lobby. Ethonal from corn is the least efficeint of all ethanol sources and the most environmentally harsh.
Just a question, reno, when you say “it pays well to greedy farmers”, are you referring to those same farmers in the 70’s and 80’s that were losing their farms because of government regulations and poor trade policies, or are you referring to the mega coropate farmers that have put most family farmers out of business? My point is, I don’t nessacarily blame the farmer for playing within the rules set up by the government (like Maytag, for instance, sending jobs to Mexico because NAFTA allows them to), I would put more blame on the government for making poor policies.
Just wonder what you think.
7
bjstone
// Mar 2, 2008 at 9:55 pm
It’s Sunday, 3/2, and it’s $2.93 per gallon in Urbana, and $3.14 here in Kewanee. Don’t know what it is in Peoria, but I’d bet that it’s over three bucks.
So, now we have a 21 cent swing from one side of the state to the other for the exact same product with the exact same state laws.
Ripoff.
8
mortonmalaise
// Mar 3, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Brad,
I’m referring to the large co-ops. The age of family farming in this country is falling by the wayside. It’s unfortunate, but it’s true.
9
Brad Carter
// Mar 3, 2008 at 4:14 pm
$2.99 3/2 in Peoria.
Any city that has home rule is allowed to put an extra tax on motor fuel. Peoria has 8 different taxes on a gallon of gas. That is where some of the difference may come in.
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