Speaking of Alternative Fuels

Just came across this while reading one of my favorite blogs - Make (all about making stuff). You can purchase a dvd that shows you how to convert your standard diesel powered vehicle to one supplemented with used vegetable oil at http://vegmyride.tv. For $19.95 they show you how to run a duel-tank system (meaning you still have your factory installed diesel engine and tank) so you can still run on standard diesel whenever you please. They figure that by running on used veggie oil your cost per gallon is $.15. Wonder if your exhaust smells like french fries. Man, that would be cool. :)

It isn't a Michigan-based company, but the concept is too cool not to share. Especially when gas (and diesel) is $3 a gallon.

Online Petition for Lower Gas Prices

You can sign a petition at www.michigan.gov/som in support of lowering gas prices. Basically, the petition is to urge President Bush to cap excessive gasoline profits. Yes, it is awfully coincidental (can you sense the sarcasm?) that since Bush took office in January 2001 that gas prices have increased 240% and he just so happens to have a stake in big oil. Will this petition change the prices we are paying at the pump? Excuse me if I am a wee bit skeptical about this.

It just reminds me of those emails you get encouraging everyone to boycott the big gas stations on the same day to knock sense into big oil and have them lower their gas prices.

The only way gas prices will go down permanently is if our demand goes down. It is simple economics. We need to have a different fuel source for vehicles.

No one seems to ride the government subsidized Amtrak to save fuel. Why doesn't the government drop Amtrak and divert those funds to researching vehicles run on alternative fuels? Any cap the President can put on oil profits will be short term at best. Lets look into long-term solutions.

Thanks to my wife, Lori, for providing me the link to the online petition.

Statewide Gas Price Average - $2.91

This week's gas price average across Michigan is $2.91 per gallon. It was $2.51 a month ago and $2.19 one year ago. The Traverse City Record Eagle has an article on how the rising cost of gas is already affecting tourism-oriented businesses. I don't see how the predicted increase in state tourism of 2% can hold with these rising gas prices. The best case scenario might be that the Michigan tourism dollars remain steady for this year.

Michigan gas price information courtesy of the Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

Better Fill 'er Up Today, $3 Per Gallon by Next Week!

Just caught this news flash on the Detroit News website that states - "You'll almost certainly be paying $3 a gallon at Metro Detroit gas stations by the end of the month (next week, folks)." Expect things to be even worse in May. The price per gallon is expected to hover around $3 all summer long here in Michigan. :(

Gas Prices Week of 4/17/06

You will be paying around $2.809 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline around Michigan this week. That is the new statewide average that is up 24 cents from a month ago and 57 cents from this same time last year. The $2.238 per gallon you spent one year ago will only buy you .80 of a gallon this year.

$2.238 (last year's price per gallon) / $2.809 (today's statewide average per gallon) = .80 gallons

I hope that I didn't depress you too much with today being a Monday. Oh, and one more bit of information for you - today is the deadline to file your taxes! Now are you depressed? I hope not.

Gas price information courtesy of AAA Michigan

Gas Prices Week of 4/10/06

$2.71 is the average price you can expect to pay for one gallon of regular unleaded gasoline this week. At the Fuel Gauge Report it shows that just a short month ago we were only paying $2.46 per gallon. $3 per gallon, here we come! :( Meanwhile, gas stations are fighting back with an advertising campaign that they hope will turn drivers' anger on the correct parties - Big Oil. Remember, independent gas station owners do not have a lot of control over the prices and they don't get to share in all of the big profits being generated by the oil industry these days.

Check out the Smart Commute Program in Traverse City that could become a model for a statewide program.

What are your thoughts on the price of gas? Will you stay close to home this summer?