[leggo]

darn that Karl Rove and his evil gas price manipulator machine - perhaps Nancy and Harry will get the price of gas down as low as the Democratic led Congress approval rating.

[68vette]

The dollar is weak and will most likely become weaker. Which in turn means higher dollar per barrel. In Europe the cost of a barrel of oil is about $80.00 while here it's close to $150.00. There is also more demand for oil worldwide than ever before. Emerging countries like China and India are helping to drive the costs up as well. The speculators are to blame as well, but we are in for higher prices even if the futures market was regulated.

[flu189]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

I still say the GOP will make sure oil is cheap for a couple months before the
election. It happened a couple of years ago during elections and it will happen again. GOP and oil companies= in bed.

If that is the case I sure would not mind getting under the covers if it means I can afford to heat my home and commute to work. Alternative sources surley need to be explored and developed, but we are talking decades before they could even be considered a viable mass alternative.

[flu189]

I just completed my two week hike on the Long Trail and you do meet all kinds of interesting people from various backgrounds out in the woods. I had the pleasure of camping one night with an individual from the upper echelon of the electrical power generation industry here. For those that believe that the Hydro Quebec contracts will be renewed, be prepared for for that not to happen. If this in fact comes to pass it will also occur when Vermont Yankee will no doubt be forced off line. Not only will the cost of power skyrocket, but the actual availability to purchase it from outside utilities to meet our needs could also be limited. This issue should be at the top of the list for all the candidates for governor this November and they need to be pressed to acknowledge the consequences. Simply wrapping your house with batts of insulation and caulk will not be a remedy for this situation.

[Alt Dach]

If you live in VT you need to face the reality that it is the state with the greatest
income divide between rich and poor ,working man and trust-fund yuppy.
If you can finance your lifestyle from your fund and the Bank of om and Dad its a great place to live.
If you HAVE to scatch for a living its a high-cost ,low wage backwater section of hell.

[MTK1]

Looks like coal is making a comeback in VT.

King Coal makes a comeback in Vermont

EAST MONTPELIER — Greg and Rose Pelchuck aren’t selling as much colored stone this year. But coal orders have more than made up for it.

So much so, their company, Black Rock Coal Inc., which also sells 11 different shades of landscaping stone, is about to add two weekly truck runs to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., enabling the Pelchucks to haul 88 tons of coal each week to their 10-acre plot in East Montpelier.

“Right now, we are more than 20 trips behind,” Rose Pelchuck said, gesturing to the depleted anthracite coal bins.

With energy prices drastically higher than a year ago, some Vermonters are taking another look at coal, dusting off older units or installing new ones. The return to coal, however, is discouraged by environmental advocates.

Link to continue reading..
King Coal makes a comeback in Vermont | burlingtonfreepress.com | The Burlington Free Press

Moderator cut: Copyright issue - per the terms of service, do not cut and paste articles to this website. Post a small snipet and the link. Thank you

[vter]

We heat with propane. Just locked in our rate @ $2.85/gallon, up about $.60/gal from last year.

[quickdraw]

Here we go. Three dollar gas by election day.

[68vette]

I don't buy the whole lower gas prices because of the election. It is a known fact that other factors are playing into this. Just released this past week was the fact that people are driving less. There is a correlation with miles driven and road fatalities. The number of fatalities has significantly decreased. Another is that China, a huge consumer of crude has put restrictions on motor vehicle use during the Olympics. All these changes will reduce demand which will cause the prices to drop.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by 68vette

I don't buy the whole lower gas prices because of the election. It is a known fact that other factors are playing into this. Just released this past week was the fact that people are driving less. There is a correlation with miles driven and road fatalities. The number of fatalities has significantly decreased. Another is that China, a huge consumer of crude has put restrictions on motor vehicle use during the Olympics. All these changes will reduce demand which will cause the prices to drop.

The speculators make this a tough call, but our government can always cook up an excuse when needed. Americans not travelling.....China and India(insert b.s. story)....Wind damge to Louisiana refinery...blah blah blah.

Here's a new twist though. I don't know anyone who has bought oil for this winter. Everyone's waiting. So what is going to happen when everyone in Vermont decides to buy at the same time in October? Will oil suppliers be able to keep up with the high demand? And we all know what high demand means. And to be more cynical, the suppliers will know we can't wait any longer.