Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:45:09 -0800
Reply-To: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject: Re: Fuel Price Gouging - Again - It jumped nearly $1 locally
In-Reply-To: <4191DE1AF63A41408BF7ACF70BDF15A1@jackamdgoblue2>
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Jack,
You are correct that the infrastructure, or lack there of, and distance between population areas being the reason behind the high prices in places like Cantwell which is halfway to nowhere. Our prices have not risen drastically, they never dropped like they did in the lower 48 States, we have been at or above $4.20 for months now. There are refineries in Alaska though some have been shut down. I have not checked recently but in the past fuel prices were higher in the communities that have refineries(Kenai and Fairbanks) than they were in Anchorage, go figure.
As for using premium, I asked Boston Bob what he recommended once and his reply was to use premium in the Westy Syncro when loaded up for Summer camping trips but that regular was fine the rest of the time. I do not mind premium for these trips, it adds little to the overall cost, and much of our driving involves mountain passes in a loaded van.
Driving less is definitely the best way to save fuel. I would walk to work, only 1 1/2 mile, if I did not have to haul two kids to school first. The school leg only adds an extra couple miles but with a 5 and 15yr old I would need a tandem with a tag-a-long or trailer to make it work and the route would be longer still. Even then it would only be good for about two months a year. We do what we can to save fuel, combine errands, walk or bike when possible, etc. Plus the school, grocery store, my work, and both of my wifes stores are within a three mile(maybe less) radius of our house. Unfortunately weather also plays a factor, Winter starts in late October or early November and stays until mid April. I do not mind walking to work in the cold as long as the sidewalks are not buried in snow or you aren't getting sprayed with cold dirty water during beakup(an official season here).
Mark in AK
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack R." <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Date: Monday, September 15, 2008 2:51 pm
Subject: Re: Fuel Price Gouging - Again - It jumped nearly $1 locally
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Mark,
>
> This is simply gouging!!! Alaska has 6 refineries based on this link.. http://www.gravmag.com/oil4.html
>
> And your state produces plenty of oil too. It is likely the infrastructureand the distance between populated areas which has a negative impact on price.
>
> With that said, I still don't get why the price in Alaska would go up so drastically. The price of oil has dropped by 1/3rd in the past two months, but the cost per gallon continues to remain high. This will continue to have a negative impact on demand, and the price of oil should continue to fall. Now, with the "simple" economics this is what should happen. Bring
> in big business, the banking / lending mess, global economy and speculators,and it ends up being a crap shoot!
>
> The only sure fire way to reduce your monthly energy consumption is to drive less. But who wants to drive less, especially if you love cruising and camping in your Vanagon!
>
> Hey, if you are putting premium in the Vanagon, that really isn't worth the extra cost. These vans are designed to run fine on Regular.
>
> Jack
>
>
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