What are you paying for gasoline?

[Smokin Okie]

I guess someone needs to inform CNBC that there's been changes , cuz they ran this story just last March . I think its incredible for gasoline to be imported from other countries.

Why gas is so expensive in California​

PUBLISHED FRI, MAR 8 20246:00 AM EST

An isolated market and a special fuel blend​

California requires a special blend of gasoline that reduces pollution — and costs more money.
“California also has seen a drop of 66% in the amount of refineries in operation from where we were 40 years ago,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. “So there are fewer refineries producing this special blend of gasoline.”

California has an isolated refinery market. The special fuel blend that is consumed in California is produced by 11 major refineries within the state, according to the California Energy Commission.

“Not many other states use the same blend of fuel, which limits California’s supply when there’s an outage, when there’s an issue at one of our refineries,” Anlleyn Venegas, a senior public affairs specialist at AAA, told CNBC.

The isolated market means that any outages will lead to volatility in prices at the pump.

“Part of the reason why prices have been so high is that California has really restricted the ability for refineries to expand and grow,” said De Haan. “California has been rather hostile to refinery expansions or oil industry investments, trying to push them away and transition California to more electric vehicles.”

 

[Smokin Okie]

I can see why the refiner would have imported gasoline in storage. First under " normal " conditions its not needed and there's a transportation time lag.


From the California Energy Commission website.

• Isolated Nature of the California Fuels Market
  Under normal conditions, California refiners produce enough gasoline to meet demand inside the state. California refineries also export gasoline. When needed, the state typically imports gasoline via marine shipments, which usually take three to four weeks to deliver. The state’s prices must rise to secure these international imports via marine vessel to cover the additional delivery costs.
  
  As a result of the state’s isolated fuels market, unplanned refinery outages requiring maintenance can significantly impact the state’s gasoline supply, usually resulting in temporary price spikes.

 

[Fueling Around]

California fuel regulation centers around the LA basin, San Diego, and San Fran areas.
Smog is is product of burned and unburned hydrocarbons. The elephant trunk on the fuel dispensers to reclaim the vapors was the first step. They also require lower volatility fuel meaning it doesn't vapor off as fast in hot weather.
The push for electric vehicles (EV) is to transfer the emissions from the high population areas to the remote areas of the electric generation sites.

 

[Chris_in_SoCal]

Chris, there are 5 refineries within anywhere from 10-30 minutes away from my house. I still have friends working 4 of the 5. Not one of the refineries have produced a single drop of gasoline in over 3 yrs.
They have all converted over to bio diesel, and now import gasoline from 3rd world countries. they are using their storage tanks so store foreign gasoline companies to resell at a high markup . So basically we don't produce gasoline anymore.
This country is doomed!!!!

I remember when driving up to my grandparents place in Placerville, CA seeing a very large one just south of Sacramento. I believe it was 76 but all different brands were lined up to fill their tanks up.

That was more than 20 years ago though.

 

[forktender]

I remember when driving up to my grandparents place in Placerville, CA seeing a very large one just south of Sacramento. I believe it was 76 but all different brands were lined up to fill their tanks up.

That was more than 20 years ago though.

I found out today that there are two that are still making gas, the others are having it shipped in from other countries. Sad!!!

I'm surrounded by them, these are all with in 10-30 minutes from me.

Valero Benicia Refinery, the Tesoro Golden Eagle Refinery, the Shell Oil Refinery, the Rodeo Refinery, and the Chevron Refinery.

 

[Chris_in_SoCal]

Watching the state burn down I can only do it safely with Meme's.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

$8 a gallon downtown, about $5 out of town. California.
Free charging the EV off the house solar.
We're selling it to CarMax Monday, we never use it since most the kids moved out.

Was on the list for the Denali EV but at $133.000 nope, we walked. Half that cost was required options we didn't want.
Our 250.000+ mile 2500 HD 8.1 gas will work just fine. The $100 tank of gas doesn't look so bad after all. Red Box steering box,, like new again.

Funny experience charging the EV on the way to Las Vegas.
3 trips we stop off in Baker Ca to charge it to and from Vegas.
The non-Tesla chargers are next to the Tesla chargers.

All three trips Tesla owners were throwing punches. Feuds galore amongst them.
Thought it was just our luck to come across that. Orwellian people.

Fast Lane EV You Tube channel one day pulled in to charge their test EV and the Tesla Owners were fighting.
Then another different day Out of Spec You Tube channel was there and they witnessed a Tesla Owners fight too.

Very common. Bizarre people. Need dental work and a broken jaw wired just trying to charge your Tesla.

 

[mike243]

Paid $3.02 yesterday for my pu, I use to fill up but the prices and been up and down so much I will go $50 and get about 2 weeks or more before I wake up and look for another tank. The smaller truck holds 25gal the 4 door 36. 17mpg or so with both. need to replace engine in the 4 door as it has a valve leaking, over 300K so can't complain.

 

[normanaj]

$2.93 at Bjs yesterday.

 

[chef k-dude]

Running about $3.50 nearby, but thats a fairly isolated highway exit so they prey on the travelers. About 10¢ less on the east side of Charlottesville. As a Sam's club plus member we're paying $3.27 with 5% points on the card.

 

[dls1]

$5.20 for Shell premium on 7/21/24 in suburban Chicago.

 

[912smoker]

3.25 for regular here. Thank goodness for stores that offer points. Have .40 off at Kroger just must use them by 07/31.

Keith

 

[schlotz]

I got off the cocaine (gas guzzling) and went electric. Been tracking the energy cost vs equivalent $/gallon since the beginning of the year. So far, I've saved over $1,200. We are fortunate in that our electric prices have three tier pricing with 11pm-5am being very friendly and that's where 95% of the charging is done. Car and Level 2 charger are programed to do their thing during that time frame.