People Displeased at Pumps
Locals at the pumps Tuesday gave dozens of different reasons for the recent increase in unleaded prices, but one thing was clear: No one was happy about the price spike.
According to statistics from AAA, the average price of unleaded, regular gasoline in Grand Junction was $2.45 per gallon on March 29. A drive around the city found gas prices now floating around $2.54 per gallon.
Mike Blickenstaff, who topped off his motorcycle’s tank at the Diamond Shamrock gas station at 10th Street and North Avenue, said he thought fuel prices were rising because of trouble abroad, specifically in the Middle East.
“Anytime any problem or negative thing happens, people get into a panic and gas ends up spiking,” Blickenstaff said.
Although he declined to call the price increase “gouging,” he said he had been forced to shop around this week looking for deals.
Senja Jacobson, who filled up at the Conoco station at Orchard Avenue and 12th Street, said she thought prices had risen because of the looming holidays.
She said gas stations were probably hoping to cash in on an increase in the number of people traveling to friends’ and family members’ homes.
Rosa Zambrano, who gassed up at the Philips 66 station at 21st Street and North Avenue, said she thought the increase in the fuel prices stemmed mainly from “everything” being more expensive in Grand Junction.
“It’s outrageous!” Zambrano said. “There is no reason why (gas) has to be so expensive.”
She said compared with residents in Denver, Colorado Springs and Montrose, Grand Junction residents were getting ripped off.
But Roy Turner, executive vice president of the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association, said the increase in fuel prices was actually because of two factors consumers did not know about: Increases in gasoline speculation and the increased use of an increasingly expensive additive, ethanol.
Because lawmakers are looking to use ethanol instead of MTBE, another gasoline additive, Turner said the price of ethanol has risen significantly lately.
That, combined with increased speculation on gasoline prices, Turner said, has spiked gas prices for consumers at the pumps.
He said it was “ill-responsible” for lawmakers to consider mandating the use of ethanol now, especially when there is a shortage, and that could continue to drive up prices at the pumps.
Although he said crude prices, looming holidays, conflict abroad and other factors could impact fuel prices somewhat, right now ethanol and market speculation were driving up prices.
GJSentinel
According to statistics from AAA, the average price of unleaded, regular gasoline in Grand Junction was $2.45 per gallon on March 29. A drive around the city found gas prices now floating around $2.54 per gallon.
Mike Blickenstaff, who topped off his motorcycle’s tank at the Diamond Shamrock gas station at 10th Street and North Avenue, said he thought fuel prices were rising because of trouble abroad, specifically in the Middle East.
“Anytime any problem or negative thing happens, people get into a panic and gas ends up spiking,” Blickenstaff said.
Although he declined to call the price increase “gouging,” he said he had been forced to shop around this week looking for deals.
Senja Jacobson, who filled up at the Conoco station at Orchard Avenue and 12th Street, said she thought prices had risen because of the looming holidays.
She said gas stations were probably hoping to cash in on an increase in the number of people traveling to friends’ and family members’ homes.
Rosa Zambrano, who gassed up at the Philips 66 station at 21st Street and North Avenue, said she thought the increase in the fuel prices stemmed mainly from “everything” being more expensive in Grand Junction.
“It’s outrageous!” Zambrano said. “There is no reason why (gas) has to be so expensive.”
She said compared with residents in Denver, Colorado Springs and Montrose, Grand Junction residents were getting ripped off.
But Roy Turner, executive vice president of the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association, said the increase in fuel prices was actually because of two factors consumers did not know about: Increases in gasoline speculation and the increased use of an increasingly expensive additive, ethanol.
Because lawmakers are looking to use ethanol instead of MTBE, another gasoline additive, Turner said the price of ethanol has risen significantly lately.
That, combined with increased speculation on gasoline prices, Turner said, has spiked gas prices for consumers at the pumps.
He said it was “ill-responsible” for lawmakers to consider mandating the use of ethanol now, especially when there is a shortage, and that could continue to drive up prices at the pumps.
Although he said crude prices, looming holidays, conflict abroad and other factors could impact fuel prices somewhat, right now ethanol and market speculation were driving up prices.
GJSentinel
posted by Ottawa Gas Prices | 8:03 PM
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