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In reply to the discussion: California Gas Stations Begin to Shut on Record-High Prices [View all]hack89
(39,171 posts)51. Against California law - they have the strictest emission standards in the country
California gas is unique to California in order to meet those standards.
California uses a different sort of gasoline than the rest of the country. Its a different formulation, explained Borenstein. Its a more expensive formulation to produce. Its also a cleaner-burning formulation.
California has the strictest emission control regulations in the country, even stricter than the federal government. And our special gas recipe helps keep pollution down. But it also costs more to produce. On average it adds five to 15 cents to every gallon we buy. Lisa Margonelli, the author of the book, Oil on the Brain: Petroleums Long, Strange Trip to Your Tank, says one of the things were paying for in California is cleaner air.
That bargain gives us cleaner air, but it also means that California is something of a closed market. Since our gas is an exclusive blend, refineries have to be specially designed in order to make it. And its a gas that no other state uses.
You cant just get in a truck filled with gasoline from Oregon and drive here and flood our market with cheaper gasoline, bringing down the price and make a profit on the side, said Margonelli. You cant do that.
California has the strictest emission control regulations in the country, even stricter than the federal government. And our special gas recipe helps keep pollution down. But it also costs more to produce. On average it adds five to 15 cents to every gallon we buy. Lisa Margonelli, the author of the book, Oil on the Brain: Petroleums Long, Strange Trip to Your Tank, says one of the things were paying for in California is cleaner air.
That bargain gives us cleaner air, but it also means that California is something of a closed market. Since our gas is an exclusive blend, refineries have to be specially designed in order to make it. And its a gas that no other state uses.
You cant just get in a truck filled with gasoline from Oregon and drive here and flood our market with cheaper gasoline, bringing down the price and make a profit on the side, said Margonelli. You cant do that.
http://transportationnation.org/2012/04/16/how-gas-prices-make-california-a-red-state/
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Think about it: why would the oil companies manipulate prices in California but not swing states
onenote
Oct 2012
#65
Against California law - they have the strictest emission standards in the country
hack89
Oct 2012
#51
I believe that California has the legal right to make that decision. Legal & smart aren't
24601
Oct 2012
#25
speculators. there is NO shortage of Gas in America. we have record supplies..
progressivebydesign
Oct 2012
#34
I've been thinking about getting a mule, but it's a long ride from South Park to La Jolla
slackmaster
Oct 2012
#12
Not my experience, when I was in the National Guard, everyone wanted to see the cannons
happyslug
Oct 2012
#42
It is an election year with a democratic incumbent. This is par for course.
Exultant Democracy
Oct 2012
#24
stupid fucking oil speculators.. like the Koch Brothers. But repubs refuse to rein them in. nt
progressivebydesign
Oct 2012
#33
This is so 1980, redux. Big Oil creating a false gas crisis, and profiting from it.
leveymg
Oct 2012
#37
what if everyone chose a brand, say Chevron, and boycotted that brand for a week?
olddad56
Oct 2012
#41
The better plan would be to boycott ALL OF THEM AT ONCE. i.e. stop using gasoline
happyslug
Oct 2012
#45