gasoline

Fuel economy in new vehicles reaches record high

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:51:30 +0000

The average fuel economy for U.S. built vehicles reached a new high in May, at 24.8 miles per gallon. This is good news for drivers when gas station signs are showing prices near and above $4 a gallon.

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) says consumers are not only being more fuel-efficient savvy, but car companies are listening.

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Michigan gasoline sales to drop slightly this summer

The Associated Press — Sun, 26 May 2013 19:10:46 +0000

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan utility regulators say gasoline consumption is expected to decline slightly this summer compared with previous years.

The Michigan Public Service Commission's recently released summer energy appraisal forecasts adequate energy supplies and prices this summer.

The group says gasoline sales in Michigan are expected to drop about 1 percent in 2013 after a decline of almost 2 percent last year due to increased fuel efficiency and consistently high gasoline prices.

Michigan's gasoline prices pushing $4 a gallon - again

Steve Carmody — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:21:57 +0000

Gasoline prices have risen sharply during the last few days.

"GasBuddy.com" pegs Michigan’s average price per gallon at $3.85. That's up ten cents from a week ago, and it's 20 cents higher than the national average. Many gas stations are already charging $3.99 a gallon, with a few charging more than four dollars.

Gregg Laskoski is a senior petroleum analyst with GasBuddy. He says prices are not rising because of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.

Laskoski blames refinery problems in Indiana and Illinois for prices pushing four dollars a gallon.

Michigan experiencing a 'mindblowing' gasoline price spike

Steve Carmody — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:53:12 +0000

Michigan motorists are paying a lot more for a gallon of gasoline than they did just a few weeks ago.

Just two weeks ago, the Web site GasBuddy.com pegged Michigan’s average price for a gallon of gas at $3.18. That average price has soared nearly sixty cents since then.

Patrick DeHaan is with GasBuddy. He describes the price spike as "unprecedented" for this time of year.

“What we have already seen is … mindblowing,” says DeHaan.

DeHaan is not ruling out gas prices reaching four dollars a gallon in the near future.

Cleaning up a big, underground mess in Michigan (PHOTOS)

Mark Brush — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:10:06 +0000

There are around 4,800 gas stations in Michigan, but at one time, there were a lot more. It seemed like just about every corner had a gas station on it.

Many of those gas stations are closed now, but taxpayers are often on the hook for what’s been left behind.

I visited one of these polluted sites recently with representatives from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). The heavy traffic along State Route 89 near Battle Creek makes it a perfect place for a gas station.

And for a long time, things were going well for Logan’s Gas and Deli.

Wayne State part of study on energy extraction

The Associated Press — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 20:24:30 +0000

DETROIT (AP) - A Detroit university is playing a role in early but promising efforts to find and extract new energy sources.

A research project at Wayne State University is among 14 across 11 states involved in work on methane hydrates. These are structures that look like ice but have natural gas locked inside.

The project builds on what the U.S. government calls a "successful, unprecedented" test on Alaska's North Slope that produced a steady flow of gas from methane hydrates.

Gas pipeline company proposes switch to crude oil transport

Rina Miller — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 02:47:37 +0000

A pipeline that supplies much of Michigan's natural gas could be shut down ... and converted to carry crude oil. That's sparked a number of concerns from business and government.

Natural gas is plentiful and cheap right now.

That's why a Texas company filed a request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission -- or FERC -- in July to shut down 770 miles of transmission lines across several states. It would either abandon them ... or eventually use the pipes to carry crude oil.

And that could affect how much a lot of people in Michigan will pay to heat their homes and businesses.

The pipeline owned by Trunkline Gas Company crosses into Branch County from Indiana. That's where Consumers Energy connects to it ... and distributes the natural gas to 45 counties in the Lower Peninsula.

Dan Bishop is a Consumers Energy spokesman. He says Consumers depends on Trunkline for 60 percent of the gas it supplies to 1.7 million customers in Michigan.

Michigan gasoline prices rising, Michigan Attorney General warns against price gouging

Steve Carmody — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:30:01 +0000

Michigan gasoline prices have risen 25 cents in the past week.

The price increase is tied to late summer driving demand and Hurricane Isaac disrupting oil production in the Gulf of Mexico.

The average price for a gallon of gasoline in Michigan stands at $4.08, according to GasBuddy.com.

Michigan's high gas prices explained

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 20:44:23 +0000

As Labor Day Weekend approaches, Michiganders are seeing higher gas prices.

In this morning's Michigan news headlines...

Rebecca Williams — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 11:45:39 +0000

Boost for Detroit neighborhoods, schools

Governor Snyder was in Detroit yesterday to kick off an intensive neighborhood stabilization effort. It will focus on 3 neighborhoods, anchored by 9 Detroit schools. Sarah Cwiek reports:

The effort kicked off outside Clark Preparatory Academy in Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood, on the city’s east side. Morningside is one of three communities that will get state help to demolish the abandoned homes dotting the neighborhood, and clean up the area. Lansing also plans to send in some state police patrols, and will put social workers in the neighborhood schools.
Governor Snyder says Detroit must strengthen its neighborhoods if the city is to truly come back.
“That’s the goal. We’re doing this because we believe it will work, and we want to get good experience and do continuous improvement, and then continue to ramp up the program.”
The state is putting $10 million into the effort so far, and Snyder says more could become available. City officials say the state helps supplement existing blight eradication programs.

Republican Senate candidates hold primary season debate

Three Republicans running for their party’s U.S. Senate nomination appeared together yesterday in their only televised debate of this primary season. Former Congressman Pete Hoekstra, charter school executive Clark Durant, and former judge Randy Hekman are running. Rick Pluta reports:

Enbridge pipeline break in Wisconsin partly blamed for spike in Michigan gasoline prices

Steve Carmody — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 15:35:15 +0000

Gasoline prices in parts of Michigan are soaring over $4 a gallon.

The recent leak that shutdown an oil pipeline in Wisconsin is getting much of the blame. The Enbridge Energy pipeline has been shut down since it sprung a leak last week.

No big spike in gasoline prices expected this week

Steve Carmody — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:01:01 +0000

AAA predicts 1.4 million Michiganders will travel during the Fourth of July holiday.

Most of them will be driving. GasBuddy.com says drivers should not expect to see a big spike in gasoline prices.

Report: Michiganders will use less gasoline and electricity this summer

Steve Carmody — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:23:10 +0000

Michiganders will use less gasoline and electricity this summer, that's according to the Michigan Public Service Commission.

The state utility regulatory agency issued its annual Summer Energy Appraisal today.

Judy Palnau is the agency’s spokeswoman. She says there are a couple reasons why the public service commission expects gasoline sales will decline about 2 percent this summer in Michigan.

“Part of that is a economy. But part of that is we are also driving more energy efficient vehicles,” says Palnau.

Palnau says the economy is also a reason why they expect electricity use will dip slightly this summer.

“Our sluggish economy is still a factor in decreasing use of electricity,” says Palnau, though the MPSC expects residential electric use will increase.

The MPSC study also predicts natural gas sales will decline nearly 5 percent this summer. A mild winter drove down demand among both business and residential natural gas customers.

Drilling rights auction brings in more than $4 million

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:36:29 +0000

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources auctioned off state-owned oil and natural gas drilling rights on more than 90,000 acres yesterday.

Here’s a recap of the auction results:

Total acres up for auction: 108,164.70
Total acres leased: 91,225.42
Total money raised: $4,118,848.60
Average bid per acre: $39.90

These auctions are typically held twice per year, in May and October.

The money raised from these biannual auctions has been steadily increasing since 2000, hitting peaks in 2008 and 2010.

In the first auction of 2008, the state leased all of the 149,000 available acres for more than $13 million. The last time the state had a 100 percent lease rate was in 1981.

The first auction in 2010 had a 99.6 percent lease rate and raised an unprecedented amount: more than $178 million.

The average bid per acre for that auction was $1,507, which far exceeds the average bids at any other auctions over the last 10 years, all of which have been under $100.

-Suzanne Jacobs, Michigan Radio Newsroom

Gasoline prices falling in Michigan

Steve Carmody — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:07:55 +0000

Michigan gasoline prices are falling. Prices are down about ten cents a gallon in the past week and are actually 16 cents lower than a year ago.

Patrick DeHaan is an analyst with GasBuddy.com. He predicts prices will stay below four dollars a gallon through Memorial Day.

MI Sen. Levin supports President Obama's plan to target oil speculators

Zoe Clark — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:32:08 +0000

President Obama is setting his sights on oil-market speculators. The President laid out a plan this week that would make it easier for the government to regulate oil trading markets.

There’s concern in the Obama administration that speculators are artificially driving up the price of oil. The President’s plan would increase spending to provide better oversight of energy markets. It would also increase penalties against those who engage in illegal trading.

Michigan Democratic Senator Carl Levin is in favor of the President's plan. He thinks more regulation of the markets is needed. "This is not a situation where the market is governing – where the usual rules of supply and demand govern. As a matter of fact, if supply and demand were the driving force here, gas prices would be going down. Not up," Levin says.

The President concedes that his plan will not immediately lower gas prices. But he says it will prevent market manipulation which, in turn, will help consumers.

In this morning's Michigan news headlines...

Mark Brush — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:24:46 +0000

Deadline coming for Detroit

Detroit City Council is meeting today to mull over potential changes to a "financial stability agreement" with the state. Gov. Rick Snyder has said this Thursday is his deadline to decide whether or not to appoint an emergency manager for the city, but some think there might be some wiggle room. From the Detroit Free Press:

On Friday, Snyder's chief of staff Dennis Muchmore said on "Off the Record" on public TV's WKAR that "there's a little bit of flexibility that's built into the law" establishing the emergency manager process, and April 13 becomes "another target date" because of an appeal period. But in a comment that received less attention, Muchmore also said that Thursday is "a hard and fast deadline" for Snyder to decide on an emergency manager.

Michigan Radio's Sarah Cwiek reported last Friday that another court hearing on the legality of the state's consent agreement process could further muddle the process. A court hearing is set for April 9th, after Gov. Snyder's April 5th deadline.

Dow to lay off 900 workers

Dow Chemical Co. is set to lay off around 900 people in response to weak demand for its products in Europe.

The Associated Press reports the chemical manufacturer said today the positions will be cut as part of a plan to trim about $250 million in annual costs. They said they will shut down factories in Illinois, Portugal, Hungary, and Brazil, and it will idle a plant in The Netherlands.

Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris said the company made the decision to adapt to a volatile economy, especially in western Europe.
Dow says it will book a first-quarter charge of $350 million in the first quarter for severance packages, asset impairments and other items related to its cost-cutting plan.
Shares rose 3 cents to $34.67 in morning trading.

Gas prices rising

Gas prices rose about 7 cents during the past week, according to AAA Michigan. Prices are at a statewide average above $4 per gallon for the first time since last June.

From the AP:

The auto club says Monday the average of $4.04 is about 37 cents per gallon higher than last year at this time.
Of the cities it surveys, AAA Michigan says the cheapest price for self-serve unleaded fuel is in the Flint area, where it's $3.95 a gallon. The highest average is in the Ann Arbor and Marquette areas at $4.07.

AAA says Michigan's all-time high was $4.26.

Rising gasoline prices have more Michiganders riding the bus

Steve Carmody — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:01:01 +0000

Public transportation is becoming more popular in Michigan as gasoline prices soar.

Gasbuddy.com reports the average price for a gallon of gas leaped to $4.10 this week.

Clark Harder is the president of the Michigan Public Transit Association. Harder says bus ridership has been rising along with the price of gas in Michigan.

“For a lot of people four dollars is kind of a trigger factor that causes them to think about parking their car and trying out transit," says Harder.

Rising gas prices = rising worries for Michigan retailers

Steve Carmody — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 05:01:01 +0000

Michigan retailers are becoming more concerned about the impact rising gasoline prices will have on sales.

Michigan’s average gas price leaped over four dollars a gallon this week.

The Michigan Retailers Association released a survey Wednesday showing lower sales projections over the next three months.

Tom Scott is with the Michigan Retailers Association. He says rising gas prices will force retailers to spend more to ship their products and discourage customers from coming into their stores.

Don't believe the hype; gas prices not linked to domestic drilling

Mark Brush — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:24:39 +0000

A new analysis by the Associated Press found no correlation between domestic oil drilling and gas prices in the U.S.

So this famous line will get you applause...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhvRQyRdVEI

... but it won't get you lower gas prices.

"Drill, baby, drill has nothing to do with it," said Judith Dwarkin, chief energy economist at ITG investment research. Two other energy economists said the same thing and experts in the field have been making that observation for decades.

And it's not just Republicans who make these kind of claims.

Placing blame for high gas prices is low-hanging, point-scoring fruit for any politician.

The Associated Press points out that on the campaign trail in 2008, then presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama said "here in Ohio, you're paying nearly $3.70 a gallon for gas, 2-1/2 times what it cost when George Bush took office."

He's not blaming the White House occupant these days.

The Associated Press' Seth Borenstein and Jack Gillum wrote "statistical analysis of 36 years of monthly, inflation-adjusted gasoline prices and U.S. domestic oil production by The Associated Press shows no statistical correlation between how much oil comes out of U.S. wells and the price at the pump."