Speaking of the price of gas

[Recumbent ReCycler]

Here are a couple links where you can find out how much gas costs at different stations.
http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx
http://www.newhampshiregasprices.com/
Note: The Walmart Sunoco station in Somersworth charges 3 cents less per gallon than the listed price if you pay for your gas with a Walmart prepaid gas card.  I've noticed that gas stations in and around Concord tend to be some of the cheapest in the state.

[FrankChodorov]

All I'm saying is that if the companies don't make high profits, there's no incentive for new market entrants, and no incentive for current companies to build. (And especially there's no incentive for the ones on the government dole, like Halliburton and the rest of the politicially connected fascist oil/government complex.  Expecially when you have to build a new plant you have lots of regulations to go through and the DOE. (Good grief, the US department of energy would make Stallan proud. It's a completely socialist entity with 5 year plans and everything. ) It's very difficult for a company to know if something will be profitably or not in that environment.

There are lots of places with known oil reserves. There's lots of oil in AK that's free flowing up onto the ground just being waisted, because it starts decomposinog because drilling isn't allowed. Now, simply allowing oil companies to just go in their isn't good either because w/o actual ownership of the property they'll completely rape the land with no regards for other values the property has but getting those lands into private property owners would do a good deal to increase world supplys of oil.

On top of that their are known oil supplies in Africa which nobody's tried to develope. The main reason for that again is lack of private property rights. The 3rd world dictators steal everything of value so what's the point in owning anything. But I bet you that if Oil companies made enough of a healthy profit, upstarts would start investigating these known oil researves more carefully.

In Russia there's lots of oil -- but they have the same problems with socialism. Nobody wants to pay to drill and refine oil if it's all just going to be taxes away from them. There were U.S. companies that were going to try drilling their for awhile and bagged the idea for russian political reasons. But if the price of oil and gas get high enough, I'm sure some companies will revisit the idea and try to figure out how to make a profit.

There are also known oil researves in South America, but research and developement has been stagnant.

The reason R and D into these have been stagnent in U.S. companies doesn't have anything to do w/ the fact that their isn't more oiil out their. It has a lot more to do with U.S. regulations. Neewcomers need to get all sorts of licenses and jump through all sorts of regulatory hurdels. The current crop -- not seeing much competition. (espeically again the politically connected part of the current crop.) doesn't have much incentive. But if all those regulatory hurdels were abolished and it was easier for a new company to start an oil business. you start seeing new supply. But currently, it's not worth it because the cost of regulation is too much for a new company to bare.

Add to that the War in Iraq and the Bomb threat hanging over Iran has pushed the price up a good $40/bll then it would be had the US not invaded Iraq and not started threatening to bomb Iran.

Add to that the regulatory hurdles (in fact the de facto outlawing of Nuclear)  of other types of energy currently. If oil had to compete w/ clean nuclear energy in the U.S. the price of oil would probably be about half what it is now.

The upside to all this, is that soon solar energy will soo start paying for itself w/in 5 years instead of 30 relative to using gas and oil.

But seriously. With all the government distortions in the marketplace it's almost impossible for an oil company to decide with actions would be profitable and which wouldn't be. There's no reason to blame high oil prices on peak oil theories or anything else besides the U.S. governments hybred of fascist (Crony capitalism, Halliburton, etc.) and socialist (DoE, taxing high profits, they're talking about a new $100 gas dole, etc.) policies.

the companies want the regulation because it becomes a barrier of entry for competition to protect their profits...

[AlanM]

The important thing to remember is that the powers that be believe in peak oil, Cheney even said so. They are conducting foreign policy based on peak oil. That is what Iraq, and Iran is partly based on, the needto secure access to oil in a dwindling supply market. The rest is about the dollar.

[FrankChodorov]

The important thing to remember is that the powers that be believe in peak oil, Cheney even said so. They are conducting foreign policy based on peak oil. That is what Iraq, and Iran is partly based on, the needto secure access to oil in a dwindling supply market. The rest is about the dollar.

the dollar is the currency oil is traded in...

in a speech Cheney essentially proclaimed that we were using 6 barrels of oil to every 1 barrel being discovered...it doesn't take a math genius to figure out the pending problem.

[AlanM]

The important thing to remember is that the powers that be believe in peak oil, Cheney even said so. They are conducting foreign policy based on peak oil. That is what Iraq, and Iran is partly based on, the needto secure access to oil in a dwindling supply market. The rest is about the dollar.

the dollar is the currency oil is traded in...

Precisely. If it wasn't, it would collapse in value. Saddam wanted to sell oil in Euros. Now Iran does.

[FrankChodorov]

here is Cheney's quote:

In a 1999 speech he gave while still CEO of Halliburton, Cheney stated:

"By some estimates, there will be an average of two-percent
annual growth in global oil demand over the years ahead,
along with, conservatively, a three-percent natural decline
in production from existing reserves.That means by 2010 we
will need on the order of an additional 50 million barrels a
day." 

[Russell Kanning]

Gas is 2.79 here. High ... but at least not 3.29 like after Katrina.

[BillyC]

Gas is 2.79 here. High ... but at least not 3.29 like after Katrina.

soon

[tracysaboe]

Wow! Bill is quoting Cheny as a reliable source

How far down the illogical argument by authority rebit hole is he going to sink.

How far can he go.

Place your bets people!

Tracy

[FrankChodorov]

quoting Cheny as a reliable source

he was the CEO of Halliburton

[Fluff and Stuff]

Do you think the oil companies would drop their prices if they were taxed less?
Is Greed good?

In states with lower taxes the gas prices are lower. Did you look at that cool map from kbcraig? There are reasons that the lowest prices were in MT and WY and the highest in CA and NY (NH was also low for New England). Why do you think the price of gas is $3 and not $100? If the oil companies had unlimited ability to raise prices, then why haven't they?
Greed is not good, but I can't make Ytsvu not be greedy.

MT doesn't have low taxes (maybe low gas taxes but the overall taxes are high).  Other than that, you are right and I agree with you.

[tracysaboe]

quoting Cheny as a reliable source

he was the CEO of Halliburton

Halliburton has everything to gain by this fearmongering so it can jack-up prices.

You're trusting some former CEO of some corporation with a vested interest in people believing this propaganda? <Shakes head>  Shame.  Shame.

Tracy

[sticky]

Is this the gas thread?

I'm looking for 100 octane unleaded. I checked Mr. Mike's truck stop. He grumbled something about "the state" messing with his 100 octane pump. He didn't know any stations that carry 100 octane either.

Anyone know where I might find high octane in NH?