better gasoline?

[tirebird]

The House just passed legislation enabling oil companies to expand and build new refineries. In the proposed law is a provision that may help bring down gas prices to California drivers and drivers of other states. Hopefully, it will bring higher octane gasoline too.

Basically, you know that there are 17 different blends of gasolines for different areas of the nation. When you factor in the seasons, probably multiple number of those 17 gasoline blends. So the proposed law has a clause which says:

"* Limiting anti-pollution gasoline blends to six, from the

current 17";

Those of us in California can only hope for the 93 octane that a lot you have in other parts of the nation.

[Belair62]

There are people out there in Cal who just stopped humping a tree and are going to fight anything to do with gasoline.

[P.J.]

Just a thought!
Why would the oil companies want to build more refineries
when they bought up the compettition a few years back and then closed them down so that they could manipulate the market.Do you remember the 70s gas shortages. I sold my 66
ss chevelle back then because the oil companies told us that there was no more oil remember.It was just a ploy to rape the taxpayers.The goverment is in bed with them
because every gallon of gas sold brings them lots of taxes
the higher the price the more they get.OINK OINK OILNK.
suprss70

[Dave Rifkin]

I was also told that part of the reason for the increase in price is not due to a shortage of crude at all. It's the fact that the refineries can't keep up with demand now that some of the plants were damaged during Katrina and Rita. In addition, I heard that refineries can't just produce 92 octane for the entire country; apparently the fuel blends vary from state to state? Not sure how accurate this information is but there is some talk within the government and the oil companies to allow the refineries to produce one type of regular unleaded, one type of Super; etc. for the whole country without the minor differences for the states that currently require special blends

[tirebird]

Peter, you're correct. Right now, there are 17 and possibly more different blends of gasoline depending upon air pollution ratings, altitude, season, and location, for different areas of the nation. In California, for example, the gas we have in the Bay Area is different than the gas people in other areas of Northern California get. Plus, the gas I get in Reno cannot be legally sold in Sacramento, or Monterey, or Oakland. So, by limiting the blends to six, the refineries can be more efficient and hopefully bring up the supply. That's the theory. I'm not sure reality will match theory.

[WILMASBOYL78]

As I recall the prices were going up before the hurricane situation. the whole thing is scam and we are willing participants. Gasoline is our national heroin, we just can't kick the habit. We need to drive and won't leave our cars parked in the garage. I worked in a service station in high school during the 73-74 gas crisis. People got in fist fights in the driveway over gas, and it was only 45 cents a gallon!!! It is really frustrating to think about the situation and how little control we actually have.

Hey Karen, where are my walking shoes???

[bertfam]

I find it amazing that 30 years ago we were unloading these "gas guzzlers" becuase gas was at an all time high of .45 cents a gallon. Now that it's $3.00 a gallon, we're buying them back again at unheard of prices!! Does anyone else see the irony in this?!

Ed

[SuperNovaSS]

IF the government is so in bed with the gas companies, then why do they subsidize every gallon of gas that we buy? Bob, they won't stop humping trees in Santa Cruz. There are more hippies here than there were at WoodStock!

Jason

[427TJ]

Don't get excited about gas prices coming down. They might come down a few cents here and there but only to soothe us a little after we've gotten used to the higher price. Over time it's going to go up and up and up. It's gone up what--a dollar in the past 12-18 months? Just let that sink in for a minute and you'll realize what's going on.

They know we need it. They know we can't get it from anyone else. "They" aren't just the Arabs, "they" are the oil companies too.

[Chevy454]

[ QUOTE ]
Over time it's going to go up and up and up. It's gone up what--a dollar in the past 12-18 months? Just let that sink in for a minute and you'll realize what's going on.

[/ QUOTE ]
I think Johnny Cat said we paid $1.52/gallon on our way up to SCR7...this year, on our way to SCR8 at the same station, we paid $3.00...