Gas Prices Could Reach $4 Per Gallon by Summer [POLL]
The current average of $3.49 per gallon marks a dramatic increase in prices over the last several weeks.
Residents across the Commonwealth may have noticed a steady hike in gas prices over the last several weeks.
In a report on Monday from AAA Southern New England, self-serve pumps are currently charging an average of $3.49 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, according to MyFoxBoston.com.
The current average marks the seventh week in a row of continued increases.
What's more, that current average is $.38 more than it was the same time last year. And prices are expected to hover around $4 per gallon by the time summer hits.
This will undoubtedly affect residents who travel by car to commute to work daily. As such, we're wondering how this rise in gas prices could affect you.
Let us know your thoughts in today's poll and weigh in with comments below.
JT
5:58 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Gasoline prices are outrageous and getting worse. We should be opening up our own country's resources to cut our dependence on foreign oil. It's bad enough that so many people are still out of work, but the ones that do have a job and a long commute to reach it, are using more money than should be necessary on gasoline instead of being able to use it on food, shelter, and other family necessities.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
11:07 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
To My Flock,
High gas prices are a direct result of The Messiah's energy policy. President Obama has discouraged domestic exploration for, and production of, petroleum. Coal, nuclear, hydro and biofuels have fared no better. His emphasis is on the so-called 'green' or 'renewable' sources... ignoring the fact that the sun don't always shine and the wind don't always blow. Abundant natural gas, which the Annointed One had little influence over is the only bright spot regarding domestic energy production,
Your spiritual advisor,
Reverend E. Raleigh PImperton III
MJ
9:31 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
We can't drill our way out of this. China & India are consuming more & oil is a global commodity. We should have been developing new power sources years ago. Although we're late to the party, we must start NOW. Nuclear--? We've seen what can happen, in Chernobyl & Japan. And Rev-- btw, hydro & bio fuels ARE green & renewable. Just think back on how dramatically the Internet has changed our life and so quickly. Renewable energy will do the same, even more dramatically, for we won't need to cater to Middle Eastern nations who hate us.
Badger
9:40 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
"We should have been developing new power sources years ago."
Who is this "we?" What are YOU doing to "develop new power sources?" Did you major in engineering of some sort? Are you encouraging your children to do so?
"think back on how dramatically the Internet has changed our life and so quickly."
DARPANET languished for years--it was the free-market rush into the nascent World Wide Web that drove the internet. Why not let the free market do its thing in energy as well? Upward moves in energy spur the free market into otherwise unprofitable areas of research (I believe $4/gallon is the trigger point). Government--not just ours, but others--has shown again and again an inability to "pick winners" (Soviet "pig iron" anyone?)
Fred Civian
5:07 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I think that a damaging fire at a key West Coast refinery, annual “turnaround” time for the industry http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/22/BU5K1NAKHH.DTL and Iran threatening global supplies have just a wee bit of influence on the recent spike in oil prices.
But when I checked the actual oil production figures, l was surprised to learn 2 things: 1) Domestic oil production (which peaked in 1984 and decreased steadily until 2008) has increased ~12 % since 2008 http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=MCRFPUS1&f=M
and 2) US oil companies’ EXPORTS have increased about 250% since the mid 2000s
I know that doesn’t fit some folks’ narratives . . . but it does mean that we are producing more oil during Obama’s term that before. Not sure how much credit you are willing to give him for that, but that’s the facts.
David Chase
7:08 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
And also: number of drilling rigs in US oil fields has quadrupled in the last three years. There's more drilling rigs (both oil and natural gas) at work in the US now than in the entire rest of the world. http://www.chron.com/business/article/U-S-oil-gusher-blows-out-projections-3341919.php
Badger
9:43 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
.
"But it does mean that we are producing more oil during Obama’s term that before."
Technically accurate, but the boom started before his term and DESPITE his efforts to curtail domestic energy production (new coal restrictions? EPA opposition to fracking?) or reduce domestic energy prices (Keystone?).
Net exports are on the rise in part because domestic consumption is down: factories don't need no stinkin' 'lectricity if'n they aren't producing goods. Exports are not ALWAYS a good thing.
Lastly: Gas prices are on the rise, in part, because the dollar continues to tumble. While its death is not imminent, the era of US Dollar "safe haven" status is under coordinated attack both from without (China, Eurozone) and within (Government policies debasing US debt and "boosting" exports).
So, as to "how much credit [one is] willing to give [Obama]," well, I give him credit for doing his darnedest to exacerbate the bad situation handed him, whether out of ignorance or malice remains to be seen.
Badger
9:50 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Oh, one more thing: Explain how it is NOT hypocritical that the Left went from squawking "Halliburton! Halliburton!" or kvetching about Bush's "ties to oil" to "Obama deserves credit for increased oil production?"
Seriously....
(I wish the Left would start squawking about "Solyndra! Solyndra!" or "LightSquared Cronyism!" or "Gunwalker! Gunwalker!"--or count deaths in Iraq or Afghanistan--but, of course, His Eminence MUST remain scandal free, right?)
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
9:49 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Press clippings would explain Obama's blockage of the Keystone pipeline. We are swimming in oil, so let the Chinese take the Canadian crude and refine it.
What they do not explain is the headline - four dollar gasoline expected by summer. How could supposedly immense suppy and recessional demand be so out of sync? Hopefully a refinery fire or yet another Mid-East threat will fade in the rearview mirror...or is it a vast oil company conspiracy; is George W. Bush to blame?
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
Badger
4:37 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
BTW: For those of you praising Obama, please remember his decision on Keystone. Why is this relevant?
Check gas prices in Canada-supplied Colorado:
http://www.coloradogasprices.com/
Yeah, that's right: $2.89/gallon.
Suncor pipes its Canadian tar sands ouput down to a Denver refinery. Too bad about that Keystone thing, huh?
Other observations:
Said Obama's Energy Secretary, Steven Chu (albeit prior to his ascension, although perhaps his comments were a catalyst): “Somehow, we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.”
Obama's energy quote: “Under my plan, of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.”
Obama on coal: "If someone wants to build a new coal-fired power plant they can, but it will bankrupt them because they will be charged a huge sum for all the greenhouse gas that’s being emitted. "
And on whom do these costs disproportionately fall? Why, prospective gubmint dependents... er... taxpayers.. (wrong again!)... oh, here we are: Voters!
Because, in what is turning out to be an insight of great prescience, recall an early exultant: "I won’t have to worry about putting gas in my car. I won’t have to worry about paying my mortgage. You know. If I help [Obama], he’s gonna help me."
[Ironically, in Florida, home of this internet Tiresias (or unwitting Cassandra), gasoline is fast approaching six bucks a jug.]
David Chase
5:48 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
We wouldn't see prices anything like that with the Keystone pipeline completed -- if you get that oil to Texas, it's on the world market, and it would only lower our prices to the same extent that it lowered world market prices, which is not very much (and Saudi Arabia could just pump a little less, and we'd see no difference at all).
Fred Civian
9:00 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
It's tempting - and wrong - to call out one specific decision and say that it affects gas prices all over the country.
Here’s some of the actions taken by Obama in the last few years to increase domestic oil production: opened drilling from Delaware to central Florida, plus the northern waters of Alaska; exploration proposed to begin 50 miles off the coast of Virginia in 2012; began holding annual auctions for oil and gas leases in the Alaska National Petroleum Reserve in the North Slope of Alaska; started environmental review process to open the Atlantic Seaboard to drilling (previous policy prohibited any Atlantic Seaboard drilling through 2018); extended leases already granted for drilling in the Arctic Ocean off Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico that were frozen after the BP spill, allowed companies additional time to meet new safety and environmental standards without having to worry about their leases expiring; provide incentives for oil companies to more quickly exploit leases they already hold.
Obama hasn't done enought to satisfy some folks, but to say he's not heading in that direction is factually incorrect.
Fred Civian
9:02 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
In re: Badger's comment about when the domestic oil production boom started, here are domestic oil production figures from 2003 - 2010:
2003 - 2,073,454
2005 - 1,890,107
2006 - 1,862,259
2007 - 1,848,450
2008 - 1,811,816 lowest point
2009 - 1,956,596
2010 - 1,998,137
2011 - 1,888,306 for 11 months; December still to be reported; will be highest yearly amount since 2003
Badger
10:09 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
.
Because of... or despite?
According to the Energy Information Administration's 2010 Annual Energy Review, Oil and natural gas production on FEDERAL lands has fallen by over 40 percent since 2000.
Over the same time period (and according to the same source) oil production on PRIVATE and STATE lands has risen by 11 percent and natural gas production has risen by 40 percent.
Indeed, to cite the most important example: most all of North Dakota’s Bakken formation is on private lands--which are much harder for the President to restrict.. Over the past 10 years, North Dakota oil production has increased by over 250 percent, while federal oil and natural gas production has fallen more than 40 percent. (Surely you have read of evironmental groups fighting Dakota exploration--but being thwarted by--gads!--property rights?)
And I do not call out "one specific decision" as affecting prices generally--I call out an overall policy (biofuel, EVs, "renewables") as misguided and detrimental (as are, eventually but inevitably, all centrally planned Government initiatives). Corn, wind, and sunshine ain't gonna cut it anytime soon.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
6:10 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Obama will find it increasingly difficult to disassociate himself from high gas prices. His supporters will have to stretch even harder than those on this blog. The Messiah's attitude toward energy sources is well documented. If it has 'fossil' in the name, it is supposed to become a fossil during his regime.
Steven Chu has proved a weak and ineffective choice as energy secretary. What else could we expect - what competent candidate could have been attracted to serve in the Obama administration.
It has been recognized for years that the so called 'green' or 'clean' sources do not deliver energy 24/7. We have no practical method of storing electricity in sufficient quantity. That means we need full backup electric generation capacity for dark windless days... see nuclear, fossil or possibly some hydropower.
The ABO movement is growing - Anybody But Obama.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
11:33 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
A detailed review of Obama's energy policy appears today on the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal...
"The reality is that most of the increase in U.S. oil and gas production has come despite the Obama adminstration."
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
Badger
11:45 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
"Mr. Obama has seen the energy sun rise and is crowing like a rooster that he made it happen."
Very funny.
http://tinyurl.com/88mr2o7
Colin P. Varga
1:33 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
First, Canadian oil doesn't seem to be the cause for CO prices being lower than here. In Edmonton, where that pipeline starts for that refinery in CO, and where they have refineries the price of gas is over $4US:
http://www.edmontongasprices.com/
Domestic oil production can rise any moment. The oil producers are sitting on enough property they can start new drilling any time they want. They seem to be holding out for more tax breaks (which if given probably won't be tied to increased oil production but it will help company profits) or higher global oil prices which will make production more profitable. Also, raising domestic oil production effects global prices which effects oil companies' partners at OPEC.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
6:39 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
It is heartening to read here attempts to minimize Obama's role in high gasoline prices. Most defenders seem to refer to vague conspiracies involving 'big oil' (see above). I'm disappointed that the phrases "global warming, climate change, carbon sequestration, green energy, clean tech and future generations" are largely missing. One explanation is that even suburban readers of the Patch are embarrassed to field such comments.
We all know these problems lie at the feet of George W. Bush. I call on Obama disciples, accolytes, minions, sycophants, minions, toadies, roadies and groupies to rise up in The Chosen One's defense.
Your spiritual advisor,
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
Fred Civian
12:38 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
We get it: in your world it's all Obama's fault, nothing he does help, everything he does is bad, and any facts to the contrary are to be ignored.
I'd rather stay in the real world, where data and facts help form opinions, people acknowledge that policy makers' decisions help in some ways and hurt in others, and where reasonable people use data to support their positions and learn from each other (e.g., domestic oil production increased 10% 2008-2010 despite drastically lower drilling in federal areas after the BP spill.)
But because dogmatic blame is the way so many roll, I've adopted this slogan:
"Be cynical globally, hope locally."
Badger
9:32 am on Monday, February 27, 2012
The [Obama] administration’s own Energy Information Agency “estimates that oil production in the Gulf was down 22 percent in 2011 and projected to be down 30 percent in 2012” after Mr. Obama’s Gulf moratorium policies were put in place...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/26/curl-can-you-really-afford-four-more-years
David Chase
10:28 am on Monday, February 27, 2012
I think the moratorium and drilling restrictions were perhaps motivated by that monster oil spill in 2010; clearly, actual (never mind what the rules said) safety practices leading up to the spill were not adequate.
And also, a timely blog post elsewhere, from "a certified oil-obsessive": http://earlywarn.blogspot.com/2012/02/why-are-gas-prices-high.html . He places most of the "blame" on economic progress in the developing world, combined with flat-ish oil supplies world-wide since 2004.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
1:06 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
Fred,
We can understand why you feel a little sheepish and defensive about this issue. As you point out we all are eventually constrained by the facts.
For instance Obama has made a big push for battery-powered electric cars. Guess where the electricity would come from... predominantly coal... an energy source The Messiah has villified.
George W. Bush did little better when it came to a national energy policy. But at least he did not live in La-La Land regarding the real role of fossil fuels and the real role of 'renewables'.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
B Springer
4:06 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
Rev - Are you a real Reverend? I ask because I have never heard of a real clergyman who uses terms like Anointed One and Messiah in such an irreverent manner.
Steven Iverson
9:41 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Trolls use pseudonyms.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
4:47 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
Your Father has merely repeated the terms of adulation bestowed on the President by his disciples. Obama reinforced these titles with his famous televised quote, "We are the ones we've been waiting for."
Your spiritual advisor,
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
B Springer
6:52 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
I'm not buying. I think you are not a real person.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
7:06 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
Springer,
I just checked and believe that I am a real person. If not a real person, what could I be? A robot? An alien creature? A computer program? Your imagination?
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
5:09 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
"Today Greenwire... reports that in 2011 oil production on federal lands fell by 100 million barrels in 2011 from 2010."
This from a newsletter of the New York Times, normally a rumpswab for Obama.
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/02/obamas-energy-lie-exposed.php
Your humble servant,
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
Colin P. Varga
5:41 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
Oil companies aren't in business to pump oil; production isn't necessary for huge profits. It's buy low sell high, higher, and higher. Right now oil companies profits are up. They aren't going to drill. They don't need more oil in the market. Unless the government gives them some kind of incentive (welfare) to offset loses against high priced oil revenue then we can see some cheaper oil and higher profits for the companies.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/28/us-oil-profits-idUSTRE73R3LJ20110428
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
6:12 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
Colin,
Not exactly what the article says or implies. In any case you may not be aware...
If oil companies do well hundreds of thousands of American employees do well, with good-paying jobs, plus many thousands of good-paying jobs overseas.
If oil companies do well hundreds of thousands of retirees and other investors do well, having wisely invested in oil company stocks, either directly or in a 401K.
If oil companies do well they invest in new exploration, production and even 'green energy'.
Your humble servant,
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
Colin P. Varga
7:18 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
New exploration "if" the price is right.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
7:45 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
"New exploration "if" the price is right."
And why not? Oil company officers are charged with running a business. Colin, the risks in oil and gas exploration are immense.
Have you ever seen an oil well? Met an exploration crew? Looked at an offshore platform? Seen an oil refinery? Seen oil tankers lined up?
Any idea how your car works?
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
Colin P. Varga
9:38 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
The risk of drilling a dry well is great but the overall risk of an oil company not making a profit is low.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
10:40 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Trolls also live under bridges, and occasionally jump out to scare people. It's pretty comfortable under here.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
Daniel Parsignault
1:46 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
I believe the title of this article is wrong: $5./gallon by this summer would certainly more correct.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
4:53 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Now we are treated to Obama deriding the oil companies while campaigning in New Hampshire at taxpayer expense. Did he compliment them when prices were lower? Not hardly.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
Colin P. Varga
7:26 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
The oil companies pay Rep. Joe Barton for compliments and apologies and he doesn't disappoint.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
7:30 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Barton's just representing his constituents in Texas. They produce oil down there, ya know.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III