Comments on: Southern Gas Shortage Hard On Drivers
Hurricane-Induced Shortage Triggers Filling Station Lines, Price Gouging Throughout Region
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- Some of this gouging wasn''t hurricane induced - the companies involved got greedy and raised prices before Ike, before refineries were shut down, and before any pipeline disruption. Miraculously, they had plenty of fuel available once they raised their prices.
Other cities on the same pipeline (there aren''t that many of them) didn''t have the same shortages or the same price increases.
This was gouging pure and simple. If they''d been smart about it and waited till the hurricane hit they might have gotten away with it. Somebody jumped the gun.
So CBS, I don''t really care what your oil "expert" has to say on the subject. This was a bigger story than he indicates and is going to be a big story down the road with the various states investigating. Those of us forced to stay home at the time had nothing better to do than dig up evidence and save it. - Reply to this comment
- Use the Hamish Solution:
Get a buggy
Get a horse
Get a pooper-scooper
problem solved
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Posted by TheVicar1 at 09:46 AM : Oct 01, 2008
Um, Amish? - Reply to this comment
- Part of the overally solution needs to be more "green technologies", and, yes, yellow red.
We already have technology available to set up many wind turbines to harvest wind energy and solar technology. We need to build the infrastructure and grids, not likely to happen while we are spending $10B a month in Iraq. In vest in green technologies on Wall Street. These technologies are available.
We have the technology for, dare I say it, Nuclear power. we just need to find a place to build, again as I said in an earlier post emminent domain is the only likely way we will ever be able to do this one.
Between the above we could produce all the electricity we need.
Next we need to get the Big Three off their collective butt5 and working on cost effective electirc, hybrids, natural gas cars. we need to get rid of, or tax the he11 out of, big personal vehicles (SUVs, and gas hogs).
Can all of this be done? YES! - Reply to this comment
- Well here I am in NC minding my own business and all of a sudden I''m a "pot bellied, hushpuppy stuffed red neck!" Imagine that! Goodness, what''s up with all the anger and stereotyping?
Yes we do have a gasoline shortage. No, people are not
panicking in the streets but there is a problem. We are doing our best to adjust. Also, I had to drive to DC over the weekend and I noticed that when I crossed the state line into VA gasoline was suddenly plentiful and only $3.59 per gallon. So there seems to be a lack of flexibility in the gasoline distribution system. There doesn''t seem to be a mechanism for moving gasoline readily from one section of the the country to another. Something to ponder over. But gosh that''s just the opine of a potbellied, hushpuppy eat''in red neck. I really don''t drive an SUV. You really ought to give peace and hushpuppies a chance. - Reply to this comment
- I''''ve lived a long time, including the "gas shortage" of the 70''''s when the speed limit was reduced to 55, and I find it strange that hurricanes being the excuse has only emerged in the last decade. I think we have been drilling in the Gulf longer than that, and I am 100% positive hurricanes have been around a lot longer than the last decade.
Posted by besttyper at 10:50 AM : Oct 01, 2008
It''s very simple. The demand for gasoline has risen dramatically over the last decade or so and the capacity to refine oil has remained the same. In fact, there hasn''t been a new refinery built in this country in over 30 years.
The supply/demand ratio is extremely tight right now, so any disruption will have an effect.
If anyone wants to play the blame game, you can start with who''s been blocking new refinery construction. - Reply to this comment
- I''''ve lived a long time, including the "gas shortage" of the 70''''s when the speed limit was reduced to 55, and I find it strange that hurricanes being the excuse has only emerged in the last decade. I think we have been drilling in the Gulf longer than that, and I am 100% positive hurricanes have been around a lot longer than the last decade.
Posted by besttyper at 10:50 AM : Oct 01, 2008
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While I will agree with your comments about hurricanes being around a lot longer than since the 70''s, and other comments you have made, you also need to think more globally. Since the 70''s our gas and oil consumption nationally & globally have significantly increased. The problem; no new modern refineries have been created to keep production up with demand. From what I can find on the internet, there have not been any new oil refineries built in america since the late 1970''s. Some have been expanded and updated, but not nearly enough to keep up with demand.
We can blame either Big Oil or the govt for not keeping up with the growing pop and demand. Big Oil should have been placing much of their $B in profit for new construction, BUT, and this is a big one, nobody wants a new refinery in their backyard. Where do we FORCE people to allow the govt to build them. The US govt, through emminent domain could legally do this, but it would be a BIG fight between the Fed. Govt, and state and local Govt.s.
Would you support a new refinery next door to where you live? - Reply to this comment
- Since we are on this topic, here are a few facts, which can read more about at:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/non-renewable/oil.html
A barrell of oil is 42 gallons. One barrell of oil yields, (approximately):
19.15 gal gasoline
9.21 gal Diesel
1.75 gal heating oil
1.76 gal heavy fuel oil (Residual)
3.82 gal jet fuel
1.72 gal liquified petroleum gas (LPG)
7.27 gal other products (plastic bags at the store)
At the above site is a simplified schematic for the processing of oil at a refinery.
Enjoy the reading! - Reply to this comment
- I''ve lived a long time, including the "gas shortage" of the 70''s when the speed limit was reduced to 55, and I find it strange that hurricanes being the excuse has only emerged in the last decade. I think we have been drilling in the Gulf longer than that, and I am 100% positive hurricanes have been around a lot longer than the last decade.
- Reply to this comment
- So you blame the government for hurricanes shutting down refineries because of katrina, etc.? You miss the point....let me explain. THE HURRICANES SHUT NDOWN THE REFINERIES SO THERE ISN''''T ENOUGH GAS!
Posted by easeup at 10:24 AM
No. It''s a PATTERN by this Administration. Zero planning ... zero contingencies in place for emergencies ... cowboy diplomacy ... clueless all across the board. It''s Obama time! - Reply to this comment
- Naw ... you miss the point. Let me explain. All the latest national disgraces aren''''t about politics -- they''''re about lack of PLANNING by administration officials. Katrina, Iraq, Afghanistan, Gas Lines, failure to act in time with the financial crisis. Your cute answers don''''t help. We need a change of Administration ... enough with the Republicans!!! ... we''''ve all had enough!!!! ... and OMG a big NO to Palin/McSame!
Posted by emelder at 10:14 AM : Oct 01, 2008
So you blame the government for hurricanes shutting down refineries because of katrina, etc.? You miss the point....let me explain. THE HURRICANES SHUT NDOWN THE REFINERIES SO THERE ISN''T ENOUGH GAS! - Reply to this comment
- I wonder if voters in Atlanta, Charlotte, or Chattanooga will be voting for the latest Republican whiz kid, John McCain??? NOT!!!!
Posted by emelder at 09:45 AM : Oct 01, 2008
I''''ll bet they''''re smart enough not to blame politicians for hurricanes.
and then there''''s you......
Posted by easeup at 09:47 AM
Naw ... you miss the point. Let me explain. All the latest national disgraces aren''t about politics -- they''re about lack of PLANNING by administration officials. Katrina, Iraq, Afghanistan, Gas Lines, failure to act in time with the financial crisis. Your cute answers don''t help. We need a change of Administration ... enough with the Republicans!!! ... we''ve all had enough!!!! ... and OMG a big NO to Palin/McSame! - Reply to this comment
- easeup: they wright these articles for people like you. Hopping they sell you the lie.
Posted by Upto1947 at 09:56 AM : Oct 01, 2008
Do you wear your foil hat shiny-side in or shiny-side out? Which way offers maximum protection? - Reply to this comment
- easeup: they wright these articles for people like you. Hopping they sell you the lie.
- Reply to this comment
- Southern Gas Shortage is a big big big lie by thr oil companies.
- Reply to this comment
- I wonder if voters in Atlanta, Charlotte, or Chattanooga will be voting for the latest Republican whiz kid, John McCain??? NOT!!!!
Posted by emelder at 09:45 AM : Oct 01, 2008
I''ll bet they''re smart enough not to blame politicians for hurricanes.
and then there''s you...... - Reply to this comment
- Use the Hamish Solution:
Get a buggy
Get a horse
Get a pooper-scooper
problem solved - Reply to this comment
- I wonder if voters in Atlanta, Charlotte, or Chattanooga will be voting for the latest Republican whiz kid, John McCain??? NOT!!!!
- Reply to this comment
- I could buy the argument about refineries being shut down and reduced capacity, etc., if it wasn''t for the fact that, as I said in my previous post, 40 miles away there is plenty of gas at much lower prices. And from what the local news is reporting, all gas in our region comes out of the same distribution center in SC.
- Reply to this comment
- The hurricanes shut refineries down. Period.
Why doesn''t anyone even TRY to read the articles before posting???
Sheesh........... - Reply to this comment
- Notice when a storm goes through the Gulf, even BEFORE it hits, gas prices rise, although no refineries have even been damaged. It''''s all in the mind for these people. If the government can get food, temporary homes and supplies to people within a day of a disaster, having it trucked in no less, they could divert some fuel to ensure a good supply.
Posted by MyOpinion1 at 08:13 AM : Oct 01, 2008
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Well, actually, even though no refineries are damaged it takes time to restart the refining process. It takes 3 to 5 days to shut down a refinery, you can''t just turn off a light switch, things can and will explode if not done properly. After the storm, and after they allow the workers back into the refinery (in this case Port Arthur Beaumont and Houston areas one week AFTER Ike) they need to inspect the refinery for damage. That alone can take over a week, or it could explode. Finally they have to start the entire process of refining all over again, simple things like bringing the temp up, putting oil into the pipes for refining, etc. This can take several days before a drop of gasoline is produced. Considering that Ike hit the area where 20% of America''s oil is refined. We are looking at 3 weeks to a month IF everything at the refinery is "ok", before a drop of gasoline is put out.
While I hate that Big Oil is making obscene profits, your theory is all wrong. - Reply to this comment
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