Deseret News | Utahns feeling pain at the pump

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Utahns feeling pain at the pump

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Insane | 5:11 a.m. March 11, 2008

The oil companys have extra high profits
Sad they can not give the customer some relief

ditto.. | 6:16 a.m. March 11, 2008

We have had to do the same. My husband sold his van so we could save on car insurance and gas. Now, we also just use one car. It's sad to have to resort to this, it's inconveniant but this economy leaves people no other choice.

oldman | 6:34 a.m. March 11, 2008

We knew back in the 60s that this day was coming. This is only the beginning. We could have tech today so as not to be so dependent. But, as usual, the politicians wait until things are drastic before even approaching the problem. And, in this case - big oil politicians and corps have lined their pockets from our suffering.

Comments continue below

Oops | 6:44 a.m. March 11, 2008

We spent a century rebuilding our world based on the assumption that the oil supply extended to infinity and would always be cheap. Oops, bad assumption. There will be a lot of pain as we once again rebuild back to a way of life that is a better reflection of reality.

Anonymous | 6:49 a.m. March 11, 2008

The Oil Industry is robbing Utah at the pump. We have the largest shale oil reserves in the world and could provide for America for some time if forced to. We also have traditional oil drilling in rural areas of the state. Domestic oil is the bulk of what is refined here. I am told that currently native Utah oil is selling at around $75 a barrel. Why is it then that we are paying the same price as everyone else in America?

Another oil investigation needs to be issued by Gov. Huntsman and this time there needs to be indictments. There is price gouging/fixing rampant in Utah. Oil can be sold for $25 a barrel and a profit still can be turned. Someone somewhere is making a hefty profit at the detriment to our economy and our pocket books. They get away with it because we can't just not drive. This is one time that it's good we have a government that can take action. But the question is, will they serve we, those they are sworn to protect and stop this outrageous fleecing of Utah or will they cave to these powerful special intrests?

Anonymous | 7:03 a.m. March 11, 2008

When the going gets tough - the greedy turn professional.

DeLaval Milker | 7:03 a.m. March 11, 2008

We will not yet, however, modify our driving habits, or give up the idea we need serious off road capability to get to the mall. We will not give up on the idea we're above drinking local tap water, but will pay to transport someone else's filtered tap water thousands of kilometeres. We're not ready to start thinking seriously about how our cities are designed.
We have not, it could be said, suffered enough. It is our right to suffer more.

look for more | 7:16 a.m. March 11, 2008

we're in a recession, the borders are wide open, people will flood into the salt lake valley, pollution will increase, health issues will rise, cost of living will be effected, crime and grime will be the norm. But you gotta get yours and I gotta get mine!

Disgusted | 7:33 a.m. March 11, 2008

How do you like your Bush administration now? A 12 billion dollar a month war that has been going on for 6 years is enough in itself to bankrupt our country(where is the allied help?). It concerns me that we are sold the big threat of terrorism globaly and no other countries show the same concerns if it is in fact true. We also have fuel prices going through the roof that effects everything we touch and consume daily with price increases, and the mortgage mess with people losing their homes by the thousands. This present administration is going to walk in a few months and just what do you Big Red party supporters think whoever takes over is going to be able to do in the future? There are numerous other issues(Nafta ect.) You better wake up very, very soon and not elect one more incumbent that has served during this fiasco. A complete OVERHAUL is the only thing that at this point that will possibly work. It's your choice now voters.

You voted for this day | 7:42 a.m. March 11, 2008

Welcome to the fruit of trickle down economics. trickle down economics has been the main stay of Mexican economics for decades. You live with the results.

Bush's family are earning more off their oil investments. Why should they solve what is seen to them as a great solution?

Just Me | 7:46 a.m. March 11, 2008

Is it just me, or do some people get really preachy when oil prices are high? Don't we have the freedom to drive what we choose, spend what we choose, and drive what meets our wants and needs?

And is it just me, or do many people not understand the economics of gasoline prices? The devalued dollar is a major culprit, oil companies to NOT control the price of oil, and their profit margins are lower than your favorite retailer. Maybe we need a new rule: if you don't do your homework, you forfeit the right to complain.

Revolution! | 7:53 a.m. March 11, 2008

Boy, I tell ya what, that is some spendy fuel. Sheesh. Black gold? Texas tea?

Oink Oink ... | 7:57 a.m. March 11, 2008

...hear the piggies whine. We have a self indulgent wasteful lifestyle based on using way too much oil and it is catching up with us. We could have planned ahead and made changes gradually but it seems only pain in the wallet will make us face reality. Don't blame the politicians, they are only giving us what we demand. Don't resent the oil companies, junkies always end up at the mercy of whomever is suppling the dope.

Environmentalist | 8:09 a.m. March 11, 2008

can foot some of the blame regarding high oil prices. No matter how much supply there is, refining capacity hasn't increased for years (no new refineries have been built for 30 years thanks to them) - so as demand as increased there is not enough supply at the end product. They have made sure we can't burn coal, drill for new supplies of oil within the confines of the United States, no new nuclear generators, etc. etc. Their idea of wind and solar power isn't going to get it for the near future.

Anonymous | 8:09 a.m. March 11, 2008

Don't drive. Reconfigure your life so you don't have to.

Anyhow who is blindsided by this is stupid. I have been scaling back my auto use for a couple years now - if you are doing it now, you better start because it will only get worse.

Scooter | 8:24 a.m. March 11, 2008

Think this over: Cheap oil & coal use is the "evil" creator of CO2, supposedly causing global warming. So we look for alternative energy sources, finding out that all will cost more per kwh or btu. Raising the prices & prohibit drilling, mining or finding of oil & coal sources "equalize" the cost. Alternative source of fuel is ethanol, grain based, turning your food source into fuel causes food prices to raise, breads, milks, cereals. Grain feed for animals will cost more for meats. More grains will be turned into fuel than for food, causing a supply "famine".
When you go about trying to eliminate something due to a supposed "evil" instead of looking for ways to use it better, you will eliminate more than the "evil" item.
My Grandpa always said, "You better learn to grow a garden, someday you will need it to eat from."

AIMHO

We have plenty | 8:26 a.m. March 11, 2008

But we can't go get it. Start writing congressmen and senators. We can be self sufficent, if we start being smart about it.

We have 3 cars. One is our garage car that we take for a spin a few times a year. It reminds of of a more carefree time in our lives. Then, we have the family van. With 9 kids, we have to have a van. No oher choice. and we have the husbands get around economy wind-up car. We do what we can, but our world demands that we must move around. Not everyone lives walkng distance from work anymore. So, stop companing on this blog, and start writing letters to those that make drilling decisions. It's not the oil comapny's fault we can't go get it. it's congress'.

Nostradamus | 8:28 a.m. March 11, 2008

I've been saying on these boards for years that everyone needs to get in line for a plug-in electric car. There will be two on the market in late 2009 (Toyota Prius Plug-In and Chevy Volt). They will have a range of only 40 miles before needing a recharge, but that's more than enough for the average commuter (25 miles is the average round-trip commute in America).

At the current price of electricity in Utah, it will cost you about $0.50 per 40 miles. Beat that in your gas-powered car.

Perhaps the best part is you get the satisfied feeling of sticking it to the oil companies. I will be the happiest person on earth when oil is obsolete, demand goes to near zero, and oil is trading at $2 per barrel.

Rural Utah | 8:27 a.m. March 11, 2008

How are we suppossed to scale back our driving in rural SE Utah? We are 57 miles from groceries! Everywhere we go requires a lot of mileage and no mass transit in the 4 Corners area. Regular unleaded is nearly $3.40 cents/gallon and diesel is now over $4.00 per gallon in this region.

Comes Around Go's Around | 8:36 a.m. March 11, 2008

All this complaining is fairly entertaining. If high fuel prices are bothering you, sell your big SUV and think about a less than 40 mile commute. Move back into older, close in, areas. No one is sticking a gun to your head and making you buy fuel. Its the free market baby, reduce demand and prices will fall. Lets hope some kid out there will invent new technology in the future involving alternative fuels in order to reduce our dependence on oil. Look what happened to the computer industry when a bunch of kids became motivated to resolve technology problems. I predict the same will happen with fuel technology. Don't read sensationalized newspaper articles and you won't panic.

Electric cars are not solution | 9:02 a.m. March 11, 2008

Electric cars are not the solution to our problem. If everyone gets a plug-in electric car, who is to pay for our roads? Is there going to be tax on our electricity now?

Electric cars create more new problems rather than solving old ones. They might work as a pleasurable luxury for a choice few, but if we all converted it would be a disaster. Price of electricity would skyrocket, taxes would be levied on anything from the electricity itself, to tires, car parts and maintenance items. Toll roads, high costs of registration, etc.

Sorry but we are in to stay with oil based automobiles for the long haul. Oil companies and the government have too much invested to allow something like electric cars to take off. Neither of those entities will take a switch to the electric car lying down.

Unless you want to move into a Nuclear power based society to provide enough cheap electricity for all our electric cars, levy hefty taxes on car related services and registration, then find a better way to power our automobiles.

Don't cry for me Utah | 9:15 a.m. March 11, 2008

I find all the above protestations about the high price of fuel interesting.

Didn't we return the two oil men Bush/Cheney back to Washington with the highest percentage of approval in the Nation?

What did you really expect?

Correct me if I am wrong but when they took office the price of crude was in the low twenties and today it hit one hundred and nine dollars a barrel.

Did some one lead you down the path? Was your vote misplaced? Are we going down the river with out a paddle?

I think some day you will admit it to your self you were conned by the NeoCons.

Oh of course the twelve billion dollars a month that we borrow to finance our police action in Iraq has no effect on the economy and inflation.

As Lennie said to George in Steinbecks Mice and Men
"Tell me about the rabbits George"

Electric cars ARE the solution | 9:25 a.m. March 11, 2008

"Price of electricity would skyrocket" - False. There is essentially limitless potential to generate electricity from various means (unlike oil which is a finite resource and can't be created by solar, wind, nuclear, or coal).

"High costs" - What do you think you're paying right now? I'd take a tripling of my registration and higher taxes if it meant I didn't have to pay $4/gal (or $5 or $10 like we will in a few years) for gas.

"Oil/government won't stand for it" - Actually the government is SUBSIDIZING electric car purchases and FUNDING most of the research. And oil companies have shot themselves in the foot - they are now the big bad wolf. Noone (besides Bush) listens to them anymore.

Look, if you want to keep filling up your car at increasing yearly prices (to the tune of $0.75 per year each year) because you have no desire to change, that's your business. Personally I will be laughing at you shelling out hundreds of dollars at the pump as I pass by in my electric car.

Speaking of Rabbits | 9:35 a.m. March 11, 2008

This is why I don't own a car.

Thinkin' Man | 9:51 a.m. March 11, 2008

If you think Bush & Cheney personally have anything to do with today's high oil prices, you're deluded. Certainly the president's and congress's economic policies have an influence, but not the Pres & VP personally. It's an expanding global demand and shrinking supply at the root, and that's bigger than any President.

Brian | 9:52 a.m. March 11, 2008

You naughty naughty people ! Driving your big cars and heating your homes to 72 degrees in the winter! Now is the time for the greenies to give us all a long lecture. Having litigated every attempt to develop our resources and conspired to create the very situation we now endure they can all feel very smug and self-righteous. Welcome to the age of Chicken Little which will be governed by fear of each decades new boogey man...ozone layer, global warming...and when the story wears thin it is like a switch is flicked and we are on to the next with nary a mention of the previous decades terror!

Spanky | 9:46 a.m. March 11, 2008

Where are all the Bush/Cheney republicans now? You gotta love it baby!

Frank | 9:51 a.m. March 11, 2008

Some of the logic here is hard to follow.

About those electric car problems, who cares if they tax electricity instead of oil you'll have an extra $200 a month you wont be spending on gas. And I dont see how nuclear power will waive the tax fee.

And as far as political effect, I can agree that the Bush administration may not have helped the situation, but Republican/Democrat arent exact opposites like Black/White. Just because one neglected the situation doesnt mean the other one would have solved it.

Its time to start cutting down on gas consumption now. You'll be better off when things grow into a European situation. Its going to be harder on families than single people but I still see singles consuming more gas than the average soccer mom.

European diesel cars | 9:54 a.m. March 11, 2008

In europe they have been paying +$4 a gallon for a long time, but they have diesel cars that get 60+ miles per gallon. Talk to the car industry and make them produce better more efficient cars. The european manufacturers do, why can't we?

Anonymous | 10:06 a.m. March 11, 2008

Brian, this is a run up in price by speculators because of the weakening dollar. I know Utahns love to blame liberals and environmentalists for all their woes, but this time, it has more to do with the falling dollar and investing on the futures market.

My alternative solution | 10:21 a.m. March 11, 2008

Just got a Bus Pass! Never really wanted to commute by bus, but I have to admit the money savings are looking pretty good.

By car: About $40/every other week (Or more, as gas increases over the next six months).

By bus: About $4/every other week with the discount I get through my company (No more, as my pass is already purchased for the next six months).

Can't wait until there is a better alternative and it is affordable to drive my own car again, but for now this is my alternative.

JedClampett | 10:31 a.m. March 11, 2008

I see on these posts a lot of things that need to be discussed; long commutes, low fuel efficiency, electric cars. It's the beginning of a discussion that will only intensify, no matter who is in office. I welcome it; there is no "long haul" for oil, we will run out of it. We need to hunker down and figure better ways of using energy.

sorry, Rural Utah | 10:52 a.m. March 11, 2008

but reality simply won't care how inconvenient or unworkable you find it. How many people lived in your area 100 years ago before cars and air conditioning and how did they manage it?
If you wish to continue to live in the country you may have to re-adopt country ways. Maybe you will have to bring in a truckload of dry goods every few months and grow and raise everything else you eat. If you are living a lifestyle that would not have been possible before cheap cars and fuel, you may find that it is once again imposssible after they are gone.

Don't blame greenies, Brian | 10:56 a.m. March 11, 2008

The greenies have had almost nothing to do with the energy dilemna we are now in. We have simply taken the vast bulk of cheap easy to get oil we started with and squandered it. Ironically efforts to preserve wilderness areas have caused us to have a litte more remaining than we would have otherwise. Environmental opposition will be inevitably crushed by a nation of addicts and we will use that up too and destroy what litte is left of the undegraded natural world in the process.

Stewart | 11:04 a.m. March 11, 2008

Don't Americans have a God given right to cheap gasoline? Conservation is certainly not the answer. We have been doing that for 35 years. Conservation only delays the inevitable. Of course we could set price controls on the evil oil producers, refiners, and retailers. Oops, they did that in the 70s and it only created shortages and lines. A definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result, which is the reason conservation and price control will not work. Opening new oil fields are also only a temporary solution to a problem we have known about for over three decades.

Nostradamus, and several others that posted positive notes on plug in electric cars in conjunction with a huge increase of nuclear power have the best solution. Of course this will be opposed by those who depend on oil for their wealth and those whose minds are still stuck in their nuclear power paranoia. So, we go on in our oil paradigm doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, while our standard of living continues to decline.

Anonymous | 11:10 a.m. March 11, 2008

I take the bus to work too. Been doing it for 6 years. My employer actually pays the cost of the pass as they don't have to pay for downtown parking. I drive my Corolla about 5 miles round trip each day to the park & ride lot and jump on the bus. It's actually faster than trying to drive myself and park because of the carpool lane and the fact that I don't have to park and then walk to work.

Anonymous | 11:30 a.m. March 11, 2008

$3.22 those were the days. here in San Diego it is 3.45 a gallon

Anonymous | 11:45 a.m. March 11, 2008

The problem isn't that gasoline is priced too high. The problem is there are too many "road trip" families adding to the congestion on our highways. I haven't noticed a decrease in discretionary driving lately, so most Utahns seem to be taking the price increases in stride.

Anonymous | 11:50 a.m. March 11, 2008

America is hooked on oil. It's our drug of choice and we refuse to kick the habit. We don't want to change our bad behavior and expect our elected officials to save us from ourselves. The reality is that there is increasing world wide demand for oil and we're going to have to start paying for our gluttony.

CNG Driver | 11:57 a.m. March 11, 2008

We've been driving a Natural Gas Vehicle (CNG) for almost a year now. It costs .63 a gallon in Utah and there are several pumps throughout Utah to fill up at. You can drive from one end of the state to the other and fill encounter enough pumps to keep you going. We are getting ready to convert our Suburban to natural gas with a conversion kit that will cost about $1000. We also have an at home fueling station where we can fill up our car with natural gas. If you do a lot of driving and can't cut back, natural gas is the way to go. It burns cleaner and is way more efficient than other alternative fuels. And paying only $5 to fill up is pretty sweet.

Fair game | 12:07 p.m. March 11, 2008

Oil companies are a "business".
Your only recourse is to stop buying their product.

Milk is sky rocketing too... are you still drinking it?

set | 1:50 p.m. March 11, 2008

Glad to read that some people are actually cutting back on driving, etc. From the looks of drivers on most roads, they could care less. One person is each vehicle: of course! Drive the speed limit: no chance! idle your engine while waiting 5-10 minutes in drive thru for "fast food": you bet!

Slow down and cut down.

FACTS??? | 2:19 p.m. March 11, 2008

I would be nice just once to think that you could trust someone, espically a reporter to verify the story. Utah is not the lowest in the nation for gas prices, I live in the Southern States and we just went to 3.07 yesterday, and last week we never went over 2.99. So before you try to make people feel good about paying the crazy rate, check your facts, or at least do not call Exon, Shell or Sinclar to see what the going rate is.

It would be refreshing to put the real blame where it belongs, not on the oil companies but on our own goverment, it is no wonder we have no new refineries and the ones we have are falling appart. With all the EPA, and federal regulations to build one and then there are the do-gooders of the Siera's club, they are the ones to thank, take a look at the Legacy Highway and tell me its the people building it that caused its delay in courts for how many years and at what cost, then tell me you want private companies to battle these jerks for another refinery, good luck.

wrz | 2:28 p.m. March 11, 2008

"Bush's family are earning more off their oil investments. Why should they solve what is seen to them as a great solution?"

You can cash in, too. Just buy some Exxon stock.

wrz | 2:35 p.m. March 11, 2008

"...hear the piggies whine. We have a self indulgent wasteful lifestyle based on using way too much oil and it is catching up with us."

If we cut back on consumption OPEC will merely cut back on production thus keeping oil scarce and prices high. OPEC controls production and thus oil and gas prices. It's called a monopoly. And the scary thing is that OPEC consists of country's leaders who don't care much for the US... like Venezuela.

Fred | 2:47 p.m. March 11, 2008

>>No one is sticking a gun to your head and making you buy fuel. Its the free market baby, reduce demand and prices will fall.<<

Reduce demand and production will fall keeping prices high. OPEC controls production. OPEC is a monopoly.

Opec can't produce more | 3:06 p.m. March 11, 2008

It would be very politically dangerous for OPEC to publicly state they are scraping the limits of their production capacity and cannot produce more.
That is why they are now offering rationalizations of why they "choose" not to increase production at this time.
The fact is that world oil production is maxed out and it still isn't enough. It's only going to get worse from here.It's time to stop bleating impotently about evil politicians, oil companies and cartels, and environmentalists and see the handwriting on the wall. The cheap oil age is over. You can either begin to plan your way out of automobile dependency or you can allow it to bankrupt and impoverish you.

Hurry | 3:44 p.m. March 11, 2008

Japan and hydrogen technology, then I hope these oil theives will drown in their remaining crude. Please find a way to keep our present oil and fuel producers out of the loop, on this new technology. Also some of you need to look at propane conversion in the meantime. Just quit making unecessary trips, you can do it. Quit buying overseas produced goods as much as possible, get rid of Nafta, bring jobs back and spend on USA made goods will all have a tremendous affect on our economy. I almost forgot the other big issue, lets get out of Iraq and Afganistan immediately with a new administration in place. All of these things will turn it around in a hurry.

Rhino Sparky | 5:21 p.m. March 11, 2008

Your electric car can't operate without a copper wound motor in it so you better let the open pit mines open up.
Your hydrogen car wont run without hydrogen so you better let the most efficent producer of hydrogen which is Nuclear start being built.
Lets us not forget that Big Bad Oil Makes only about 7 cents per gallon on oil but Big Loving Governmant makes about 45 cents on taxes per gallon. Who I ask you has more of a vested interest in in Fuel?
We can't drill for the millions of gallons of oil off of the gulf coast because of the Enviros.
But China can use directional drilling in Cubas Water to drill whre we could bu are banned from doing so.
We can't use the vast amounts of shell oil in Whyoming, Utah, and Colorado because a plant that could actually refine it won't be allowed to be built because of our lovely Enviros.
Don't mess with the caribou in ANWAR because we all know that animals are worth more to Enviros than Humans are.
Detroit dose not care if your next car has a gas or electric motor in it.

Anonymous | 5:46 p.m. March 11, 2008

False, we are cutting use back. I certainly am. I don't go out unless it's for work.

Oil use actually fell for the first time basically ever early this year. People are cutting back. But we are currently paying 42.9 cents a gallon in tax here in Utah. With an average of about 42 cents for America. The US Consumes 400 million gallons of gasoline a day, for a total of 140 billion a year. That is 60 billion dollars a year we spend on gas tax. Thats the equal to 5 months of the war in Iraq. How do you suggest that we regain this lost revenue. Because we are going to have to regain it somehow.

You have to have a commodity you can tax otherwise our infrastructure will collapse. You will be looking at $250-$500 registration fees on electric plug-in cars. And Environmentalist will have to release their hold on the building of new power plants, whether they be coal fired or not.

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Michael Brandy, Deseret News

In Salt Lake City on Monday, long-haul trucker Steve McDaniel fills up the 300-gallon tank on his truck with diesel fuel. With fuel at about $3.80 per gallon, he says it costs more than $1,000 to fill up.

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