CPS Energy isn't building the nuclear facilities in southern Texas, they are looking to buy into the plants to get energy from them. If CPS doesn't buy into it, someone else will. I.E. those nuke plants are going to be built whether CPS buys into it or not.

Just heard on the radio this morning that prices are getting ready to make a big jump. The reason prices have been semi-steady although oil is going way up has been due to demand. September and October are historically low demand months, but now we are in November and demand is going back up. It was stated that prices will go up approximately 2 cents per day and $4 a gallon is expected soon.

TEXDOT has stated they are considering some new scheme to charge us in Texas a road tax based on the miles we drive instead of a fixed rate at the pump (the gas taxes you pay are collected to fund road construction, maint, etc as someone mentioned in previous posts). The taxes on each gallon of gas will remain, but they want to add a new tax based on our mileage as a way to increase revenue. So, even if oil prices drop or hold steady, we're still going to pay more to drive in Texas if TEXDOT has their way. So it's a lose-lose for us no matter what happens with oil demand. We lower the demand (as we keep getting asked to do) and in return we get another tax because the government supposedly loses revenue as a result.

It was also announced that a huge oil field has been discovered off the coast of Brazil. Supposedly it is bigger and has more oil than the all the other oil fields around South America combined. If they tap it, will prices go down? Somehow, I'm thinking not.

Once price averages exceed $3 per gallon on gas, I doubt we'll ever see sub-$3 a gallon gas ever again. Taxes are going up, and everything affected by oil prices as well (a lot of things we never really think about, like food, products, etc). The meat industry is already talkig about increases in meat prices due to fuel costs for trucking, shipping, etc. Local HEB grocery stores have already increased meat prices. Rib eye steak is over $8.50 a pound now and they even offer "All Natural Angus" rib eye at a whopping $16.99 per pound. The airline industry is making rumblings about ticket prices going up due to fuel costs, and so on. I'm thinking we're going to see the famous Walmart "Price Rollback" go away as well.

As for government intervention, that's a slippery slope. The government has never managed or controlled any market more efficiently than a private sector one. Crude oil is the real crux here. OPEC controls the price of the oil and we have no choice in the matter. Kinda weird that we're at war with middle eastern countries and it is the middle east that is controlling the price....think they may be jacking it up because we're over there? I don't know, but the logic fits to some degree. China is having a huge influence in the market as well. They are so hell bent on capitalism that local markets there are absolutely nuts. They are falling into a 2-class society so fast it isn't funny. Millionaires are made over night and poverty levels are growing even faster. They have all but completely destroyed their eco system as pollution is on proportion to something you'd see in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi flick.

Once government gets involved, they may put some sort of controls on the price, but then the refineries and oil companies will reply with shortages and such (whether real or imagined). Yeah, captialism is this country, but it's not like oil or gas is just some luxury used ocasionally, we absolutely can not function without it, so something needs to be done about the prices or we're going to start seeing the number of people living in poverty in this country take a big upswing. As noted, the prices for gas have increased in a larger proportion over the actual price of a barrel by 400%. Yeah, capitalism, great, but it's starting to look more like price gouging. If the refineries supposedly can't meet the demand as they claim, why don't they take some of their record earnings and build more refineries or refurbish the ones they have....or is it more convenient to be in a "hard pressed state" as an excuse to charge more?

The only thing I can't figure out though is why diesel here is now higher than gas. Did we double our demand over the last couple years or something? I know diesel pickups are becoming more popular, but that popular?? I dunno.

 

 

Your whole post was a great read, but yeah, I too wonder whydiesel has jumped so much. Back when I got my truck diesel was ( and I think always was ) about 25 or so cents less than REGULAR gas. Now it's at least 25 cents more than PREMIUM gas. What's up with that?

 

One thing I missed in this post was any statements on the oil companies' RECORD PROFITS lately.

Thinking that might be adding to high prices, eh?

Maybe they could take some of those profits to rebuild the aging refineries they're whining about....

 

thx solar

 

The problem with these rediculous gas prices is really going to affect people where I live. Most people here only make about $8.00 an hr average. What happens to these people who have a house, children, and other bills when they can't afford to put gas in their car to go to work? I personally don't have that problem,, but suppose for a minute I did. I live in the woods, there is NO public transportation out here. I fill my truck up every other weekend at $80-90 per tank. For the man making $8.00 per hr with a family to feed,, he's hurtin pretty bad. This problem is going to get worse before it gets better and it's really pissin me off. It won't be long before we will have to go the station got get fuel and be armed. I remember in South Florida, the year that Katrina hit, I had my Glock .45 with me when I was gettin gas,, thank goodness b/c 2 teenagers whowanted tocut in the long *** line wanted to come and kill me with a tire iron. When GLOCK speaks, everybody listens [8D].

 

You mean we AREN'T supposed to be armed at the station??? I knew about hospitals & school but I'll have to go check my CWL reg's again

 

What? You have to have a license to carry in the car?

 

You don't need a license here, and you can pretty much conceal it in your car,, I stopped carrying mine b/c I know that I have no reservations about pulling the tgrigger,, especially with my daughter in the vehicle,, I would not hesitate, not for a second.

 

This is why I like biodiesel so much. Not only is it good for your engine, it keeps 20% of your money from going into the greedy oil companies pockets and towel heads over seas. Most biodiesel is made locally in smaller plants by entrepreneurs. The same type of people that long ago made this country what it is today. They had an idea and followed the American dream. Now you have the same type of people making this stuff. The best part is that the higher oil gets, the better biodiesel looks.

Yes I know it isn't available everywhere, yet. But neither was gasoline when it first came out. Like I have said before 20% is a good place to start. By that I mean B20, 20% biodiesel, 80% regular diesel. Who knows tomorrow it may be B25 then some time later B30. Wouldn't it be nice if it became B100 everywhere you looked???