$3 gasoline appears throughout Siouxland
By Bret Hayworth Journal staff writer | Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2007
The gas benchmark foreseen has arrived, a bit before some predicted.
Three dollar-priced gasoline has arrived in Sioux City prior to the summer driving season, and for just the second time ever. The previous time was in September 2005 after prices rose on concerns of oil availability in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Although smaller towns surrounding Sioux City had stations pricing gas a bit over $3 per gallon earlier this week, unleaded prices jumped about a dime overnight in Sioux City and were $3.09 at many stations Friday morning. A few stations were holding out at $2.98 midday Friday, but by evening had gone up to $3.09 as well.
After bottoming out at $1.98 per gallon in early February in Sioux City, prices have greatly spiked since, hitting $2.40 by mid-March and rising by 35 cents in the last three weeks. The highest reported price for unleaded gasoline in Iowa Friday was in Iowa City, where some stations were pricing the fuel at $3.29 per gallon.
Some stations in Sioux City have gone to pre-pay only as the sole means of sale for gas as a means to reduce those who drive away without paying.
For those clamoring for price relief and other transportation options, the $3-gas threshold arrives in Sioux City as national Bike to Work Week opens, running today through May 18. And two Siouxland senators this week announced they were introducing legislation to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
U.S. Sens. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Tim Johnson, D-S.D., on Thursday filed a bill that would require each gallon of gasoline sold after 2010 to contain at least 10 percent renewable fuel. "Using renewable resources from America's heartland is one of the best ways to release the stranglehold OPEC and other foreign countries have on our energy needs," Grassley said.
Gas hit $3 per gallon in western states in early March, and the national average reached $3 on May 4. Tom Kloza of the Oil Price Information Service noted the national gas average has been at $3 or above three times, from Sept. 3-10, 2005, July 27-Aug. 14, 2006, and now for a week.
Kloza was dismissive of a much-forwarded e-mail over the last few weeks encouraging Americans to not buy any gas on May 15, as a message to oil companies. Kloza said the boycott is ill-conceived, since most gas stations aren't owned by oil-refining firms.
Kloza said he doesn't think prices have to reach $4 in order for frustrated drivers to change their driving behaviors.
Three dollar-priced gasoline has arrived in Sioux City prior to the summer driving season, and for just the second time ever. The previous time was in September 2005 after prices rose on concerns of oil availability in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Although smaller towns surrounding Sioux City had stations pricing gas a bit over $3 per gallon earlier this week, unleaded prices jumped about a dime overnight in Sioux City and were $3.09 at many stations Friday morning. A few stations were holding out at $2.98 midday Friday, but by evening had gone up to $3.09 as well.
After bottoming out at $1.98 per gallon in early February in Sioux City, prices have greatly spiked since, hitting $2.40 by mid-March and rising by 35 cents in the last three weeks. The highest reported price for unleaded gasoline in Iowa Friday was in Iowa City, where some stations were pricing the fuel at $3.29 per gallon.
Some stations in Sioux City have gone to pre-pay only as the sole means of sale for gas as a means to reduce those who drive away without paying.
For those clamoring for price relief and other transportation options, the $3-gas threshold arrives in Sioux City as national Bike to Work Week opens, running today through May 18. And two Siouxland senators this week announced they were introducing legislation to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
U.S. Sens. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Tim Johnson, D-S.D., on Thursday filed a bill that would require each gallon of gasoline sold after 2010 to contain at least 10 percent renewable fuel. "Using renewable resources from America's heartland is one of the best ways to release the stranglehold OPEC and other foreign countries have on our energy needs," Grassley said.
Gas hit $3 per gallon in western states in early March, and the national average reached $3 on May 4. Tom Kloza of the Oil Price Information Service noted the national gas average has been at $3 or above three times, from Sept. 3-10, 2005, July 27-Aug. 14, 2006, and now for a week.
Kloza was dismissive of a much-forwarded e-mail over the last few weeks encouraging Americans to not buy any gas on May 15, as a message to oil companies. Kloza said the boycott is ill-conceived, since most gas stations aren't owned by oil-refining firms.
Kloza said he doesn't think prices have to reach $4 in order for frustrated drivers to change their driving behaviors.
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America first! wrote on May 12, 2007 11:04 PM:
Iowa Gal wrote on May 12, 2007 10:19 PM:
LM wrote on May 12, 2007 9:28 PM:
Observer wrote on May 12, 2007 7:02 AM:
What A Bunch Of Lies wrote on May 12, 2007 5:56 AM: