Comments about ‘Utah gas prices No. 1 in lower 48’

#1 usually means that we are the best.

We should say our prices are #48 out of 48.

Not much we can do about the prices the gas people charge. They can do 'bout what they want. But if you know anyone that works for the gas companies, service stations, refineries, or what ever capacity. Boycott them. let them know at church, and social functions that you don't want to have anything to do with them. They can use any excuse they want to justify higher prices, but it is just greed.

yeah jagged1, pretty smart....harass the employee's who have absolutely no say in setting gas prices. What do you do for a living? My bet is you're trying to make as much money as you can possible also. Talk about a double standard. Maybe park your SUV & 4x4 & take a bus. As long as there is a demand the prices stay high...duh!

I think somebody needs to take and Econ class and a Sunday School class. Economics to understand that supply limitations correspond to higher prices and Sunday School to learn that harassing people at church and social functions is not a kind thing to do.

Do you think Utah is the only state that has suv's and high demand. Then why is it the highest in prices. If all gas areas are harassed the word gets back to the oil companies. Ricardo and divot most likely work for the gas people. Highest priced gas in the lower 48 is also not a nice thing to do.

Too many people in Utah believe energy is a "free market," but it isn't. Our electricity is a regulated monopoly -- consumers have no choice but to buy power from their local utility monopoly, and there's virtually no way to buy cheaper or cleaner energy from other sources.

Oil is a tightly-controlled oligopoly constrained by supplies from government-owned oil producing organizations (from Saudi Arabia, Iran, to Venezuela) and refining by a small concentrated group of companies that control supply and boost profits. Worse, our government subsidizes fossil fuels from the military escorts and oversight in the Mideast to "protect" oil flow to the subsidies it offers with reduced taxation for oil and incentives for pipelines, railroads, power lines, etc.

America needs an energy plan that will break the tyranny of oil and fossil fuels by promoting a new energy infrastructure based on domestic, renewable energy and efficiency incorporating "smart grid" technologies, plug-in cars, super efficient buildings, mass transit, etc. Instead of an America that pours tax dollars into the current system and clean up of oil spills and uranium tailing (think Moab), America should foster innovation and jobs for a new domestic, cleaner energy future.

Richard----Are you suggesting that our supplies are low compared to all the other 47 states? How many gasoline refineries have you ever seen in Nevada? No, I'm thinking that there is more behind this than supply and demand. Traveling through the ski areas of Colorado the other day, we bought gas for 2.54. That was in a resort town.

If the prices are so high because of the local demand, then just imagine how high they will be after the pipeline from southern Davis County to Las Vegas is built. If there isn't enough gas for us here in the valley now, then why does chevron ship so much gasoline to Idaho, Washington, and Oregon - which was their justification for foisting oxyfuels on Utah? It appears you just can't trust the oil companies to tell us the WHOLE truth, can you?

The excuses made by those interviewed in this story make no sense.

- The Silver Eagle refinery explosion in 2009 has caused our high prices.
- Our distance from the Gulf of Mexico has caused our high prices.
- Our lack of 'economy of scale' has caused our high prices.

So last winter when we had the lowest gas prices in the nation, were these factors not in play? Of course they were - these things do not change from season to season or year to year.

No, something else is going on here - these excuses are not valid for the reasons outlined in the paragraph above. You can't blame something permanent for a temporary change. We are being gouged, plain and simple. I only wish AAA or the Utah Petroleum Assocation would stop playing us for fools and admit it.

"Refining nationwide has been a really crumbling business," Peacock said. "Refineries are shutting down. There is a complex series of uncertainties with renewable fuels, climate change and all the questions around carbon pricing; no one in the country is building more refining capacity."

And this is why government intrusion, or even the threat of intrusion, can adversely affect the economy.

What did you expect?

I bet we're #1 in gas-guzzling SUVs and Trucks.

It's simple Economics 101 -- Supply and Demand!

And where are all the consrervative Utahns and their "Free-Market Capitalism is what made America the Greatest nation on earth" today?

Oh, you want someone ELSE to pay more, not you....I see.

Heaven forbid the Government start regulating the free-market and making things fair and equal.....that would be SOCIALISM!!!

That's what happens when we're #1 in PORN access in the Country. When you're not living right...Magic err you pay the highest gas prices in the nation. Hey we're #1! we're #1...wait that's not a good thing ahhhh maaaaannnn!

I live in Washington State. We have higher gas prices than Utah (according to gas buddy)mostly because our fuel taxes are the highest in the nation.

This is probably just supply and demand, plus transportation costs.

The lack of pipelines from the east, west and south probably makes a big difference. Trucking in oil from eastern Utah is costly. Refining waxy crude probably costs more.

This could be a blessing. Utah is largely energy self reliant. Some idiot in the White House cannot shut off pipelines and deprive the region of oil.

This nation is heading toward a financial collapse the like of which none of us has ever considered. Local production and self reliance will be critical.

Want lower prices? Reduce demand.
1. Car pool.
2. Work an alternative schedule like 4-10's.
3. Consolidate trips. Go shopping with neighbors.
4. Walk to work or take the bus.

A 10% reduction in demand would have a profound impact at the pump.

This has nothing to do with anything other than unbridled greed on the part of the Utah petroleum industry. Unless/until someone develops the political will and/or backbone to call these pirates to task, we're stuck with having to pay their exorbitant prices. In the meantime, I refuse to patronize their so-called "convenience" stores to buy their over-priced groceries and goodies...which account for upward of 50% of their profits.

This is a blessing of the free market's invisible hand reaching its fingers deeper in to your pockets. Just wait. When, conservatives put government in the control of corporations, the invisible hand will extend its reach much farther.

And what is Utah's Republican-run legislature doing about it?

It's ok! I'll wait.

'Drill baby, drill.'

Maybe if we just took the oil from Liberty park...

'Oil spill in Red Butte Creek threatens waters, wildlife' - By Amy Joi O'Donoghue and Josh Smith - 06/12/10 - DSNews

People, read the article. We need more refineries, but no one will build them for fear of what the federal government will do. How is that the free market?!

Note: Price After Taxes have been subtracted! Read it a little clearer! The "Free Market" comment is sad as well, as Obama has definitely influenced your views, or communism??? I believe if there was more "Competition" for gas refining in Utah, there would be cheaper prices! Some gouging may be going on, well maybe is an understatement I guess. You can't expect the government to do much about it but Attack the gouging refinery who charges so much! It's that simple, and that is all we can do, except have everyone who can start taking "Public Transportation" and Boycott "Gas" buying in Utah, including fuel for Trucks, who try to avoid Utah anyway! You must understand, GOVERNMENT IS NOT THE ANSWER TO ALL PROBLEMS! People need to take responsibility and DO THE RIGHT THING! Just don't buy gas unless necessary! We fill our "Second Car" once a month, if it needs gas, we "PARK IT" for the month if we run out! our other car gets 39 MPG, and we use it to get to the public transit station for the most part. It's pretty simple, quit whining to the Government For Help!!!

'We need more refineries, but no one will build them for fear of what the federal government will do. How is that the free market?!' - 10:51 a.m.

Why do we need 'more' refineries. All the oil goes to a national market. If we created more oil, we would still pay for our American oil.

No, the issue is with America's DEPENDANCY on oil. If America did not need oil, we would not pander to oil czars from other countries, as we would have no need of their product.

And oil being an 'energy source?'

That 'energy source' is spilling all over 3 state coast lines, thank you very much.

The only thing 'free' in that case, is the oil spilling up on our beaches.

THAT is why they are afraid of our goverment. Because there have been spill after spill on American soil.