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West Coast: Steel Yourself for $4-Plus Gas

5 investigations planned in California refinery blast

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 10, 2012 9:48 AM CDT

(Newser) – California's refinery fire could take a toll on West Coast drivers: They can expect gas prices to break $4 per gallon as soon as today, the AP reports. The refinery supplies 16% of the region's gas, and prices have already jumped from an average of $3.86 to $3.94 in California, analysts say—though a Chevron rep says the blast isn't the only cause of such increases. Still, it could be weeks before normal production is resumed.

Investigators—including those who reviewed the BP oil spill—are launching five separate probes to see what caused the explosion and how it could play out. The explosion damaged a section of the refinery that produces clean-burning gasoline, and "California has the cleanest-burning gas in the nation, so this is definitely a market disruption," says one analyst. It's possible, note others, that other refineries could help ease the shortage. Meanwhile, Chevron can expect a wealth of lawsuits over health problems surrounding the explosion.

A man pumps gas at a Chevron gas station in San Francisco, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012.
A man pumps gas at a Chevron gas station in San Francisco, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 58 comments
atbov2
Aug 10, 2012 7:16 PM CDT
I already pay over $4.00 per gallon, that's normal in California, at least in the Bay Area. BTW that happened under Bush's watch. I remember when oil at $50 per barrel was a record, now it just hovers around $90-$100 and that's normal. Whatever, this is just ANOTHER excuse for oil companies to rip us off. The supply and demand excuse doesn't work anymore because once gas got to be consistently over $3.50 per gallon, people started driving less. I haven't heard the supply/demand excuse for at least 2 years now. It's all bullshit.
TheProducer
Aug 10, 2012 3:54 PM CDT
in this thread you'll find Conservatives trying to blame everything on anything even kind of liberal.  And you'll find liberals shrugging and going, last time we checked it was the oil companies that made their refineries.  
my-name-here
Aug 10, 2012 3:41 PM CDT
You meth-heads in this thread bad-mouthing California would be entertaining if you could come off your right-wing talking points for a moment and try an original thought on occasion. You mouth-breathers clearly know nothing about Cali that your far right leash holders have not told you. "They ain't nuthin but a buncha Godless commies, hippies, fags, and hollee wood types!  We should jest get rid of them.  Hell, we'd all be better off." Give it a rest, knuckle-draggers.  Fact is, The rest of the Nation needs Cali alot more than Cali needs the nation.  Yes, that means YOU and your state, too, Fuck-nugget.  You're jealous.  The people of California at least have the BALLS to try, even if it means failure.  And I have more news for you, there are more conservatives here than in your state. With few exceptions, there are more conservatives here than your states entire population, jackass. Despite the debt, California's GDP is higher than your states'.  Not just barely either, but by a long margin. You dumb-asses trying to hammer down on California like your nothing-but-talking-point-trainers, only show the depth of your willful ignorance as well as blind and thoughtless convictions.  And after reading your comments over the last several months, it is clear that is all you've got.  Ignorant convictions.  Nothing is harder than thinking and re-evaluating, something you pecker-heads have so ably demonstrated time and again.  And again.  Fuck you, you're the lazy ones in this nation.  That's enough. Turns out its as boring to insult morons as it is to read their comments.
 

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