Posted on 07/01/2023 5:03:28 AM PDT by bert
The average gallon of regular gas costs $4.98 in Washington state as of June 30, more than $1.00 higher than the national average
For the first time ever, Washington is the most expensive state in the country to buy gas and a new policy aimed at protecting the environment is a big reason why.
n January, Washington began a program aimed at limiting carbon emissions that requires fuel suppliers to either cut their greenhouse gasses or pay a price, but some fuel suppliers are passing along their increased costs to customers.
The average gallon of regular gas currently costs $4.98 in the state, according to AAA. That’s up $0.27 per gallon from one month ago and over $1.00 more than the national average.
"It has hit my pockets hard," said Seattle resident Sharon Ocain. "When I put gas in my truck, I spend at least $80 just to be able to get back and forth to work for two days."
The "Cap and Invest" program requires field suppliers to buy allowances based on how much greenhouse gas they emit. The program plans to reduce the number of available allowances over time, essentially making pollution more expensive for companies.
"You put an additional price on activities that use or are associated with the emission or greenhouse gasses." said Josiah Neeley with R Street Institute. "And that is supposed to encourage people to not do those behaviors, to switch to alternatives. And that’s going to reduce emissions over time."
But that doesn’t mean consumers are happy about it.
"That definitely sucks, because the consumer’s paying more for gas," said Seattle resident Chip Conyard. "I’ve definitely paid attention to it."
"It shouldn’t have to fall on us, really," Ocain added. "Because in our society right now, it’s hard to live."
In order to survive amid the hefty price tag on gas, residents might have to change their habits or the vehicle they drive, Neeley explained.
"Historically, what you see is, over time, people buy more fuel efficient vehicles," Neeley said. "They buy more hybrids, maybe they figure out how to make fewer trips."
The University of Washington reported other reasons for the spike in gas prices include a rise in demand during the summer and maintenance work being done on a major pipeline in the state.
It’s almost as if elections have real consequences...
It’s going to go higher the more Biden decreases our reserves and kowtows to foreign countries.
Apparently, the state has already sold almost $1 billion of carbon credits.
News reports imply that state government has actually collected the money on the credits.
So, are financial speculators buying the credits, with a plan to resell at a profit to carbon polluters?
Are carbon producing industries buying the credits?
How do they establish a price or a market place?
I have read two news reports on this issue, and the subject is still a complete mystery for most of us.
By the way - how will the state spend the carbon credit money?
They will invest in Green Solutions!
Boeing, Amazon, Starbucks etc
IT COST ME $64 FREAKING DOLLARS TO FILL A 14 GALLON GAS TANK THIS MORNING!!! FJB!!! EFF JAY INSLEE! AAGGHH!!
The program plans to reduce the number of available allowances over time, essentially making pollution more expensive for companies.
The companies aren't paying the price and feeling the pain, the consumers are. This is behavior modification through the infliction of pain and Neeley is just fine with that. As BlackRock's Larry Fink put it, "Behavior has to be forced." And they have the tools to do just that.
I did NOT vote for this crap. Unfortunately, I’m stuck here for the foreseeable future.
Gas just went up 4 cents a gallon in
california.
Understand. But, the majority of your fellow residents did. If you can’t change their stupid voting habits then your only recourses are to live with it or vote with your feet and leave.
Agree with this completely. Where I live, gas has been going down slightly. There is nothing to be gained by raising the price as that likely just helps fill some bureaucrat’s pocket. These people need to be taught a very harsh lesson, not pandered to. Show me where high gas prices have ever improved the climate.
I’ve been listening to the chapter, “Miracle Metal”, from Atlas Shrugged. Mr. Neeley would fit right in with the authors who crafted Directive 10-289.
I paid $3.10 yesterday in Coppell, Texas.
I think the first time we broke 3 bucks was after Katrina ...
I have fond memories of paying about $2 a gallon on 1/20/2021.
East coast we are $3.95 still- I can drive an hour south and get it $.30 cheaper, but still, it’s a lot higher than when Trump was president
Why does that matter if they wake up? The Democrats own the voting machines and run the elections.
Only if we sit on our asses and allow them to cheat. I live in the Soviet of Washington yet, my county is Red as is the county to the north, south and east of us.
Why? Because the conservatives in those counties know the dimocRAT party is the party of cheating. It’s in their DNA, they instinctively know how to cheat. Consequently we have trained ballot/poll watchers in each elections office watching every move and there’s teams of ballot rehabilitative members who contact voters who have had their ballots rejected or challenged so the voter can fix whatever caused the ballot to be rejected.
We have continuous voter education events where early voting is encouraged just because of the ability to correct any “mistakes” that a lib election official might attempt during elections and we’re constantly recruiting and training people to be ballot/poll watchers…it works every time it’s tried.
You sound either discouraged or braggadocios about dim cheating, if it’s the former, get involved locally because you can make a difference, but if it’s the latter, understand your days are numbered.
As you say, "It's "in their DNA". Despite all the valiant efforts of your honest and erstwhile citizens it seems you are still losing the war like so many other places.
Here's what seems a terrific answer to huge chunks of this criminality if you can get it implemented. Jay Valentine worked on Keri Lake's lawsuit but couldn't get his fool-proof evidence admitted in court (probable crooked judge and 2-day sham "trial" with restricted evidence). His contact number is at the end.
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