California Gas Prices Up to Start the Year
With a new fee on some oil and gas producers, the price for a gallon of gas has gone up in California.
Many stations increased their price .12 a gallon.
This comes as prices dropped to about $2.63 a gallon in California, at many stations during the recent decline that started weeks ago. It had been the lowest price drivers had seen since 2008.
The new fee for producers is part of the 2015 “cap and trade” decision by legislators to improve air quality and energy efficiency.
If refineries don’t improve their carbon impacts, they pay a fee. That money is expected to go to other energy efficient programs. Along the way however, the customers will foot the bill with each fill up.
Drivers who heard of the increase said it was a surprise to them but with the recent drop it was not going to be a big burden.
“Just kind of keep it low in the cents area, not dollars, that would be nice,” said Fred Bayat of Santa Barbara.
The owner of a pickup truck, Melanie Rogers said, she doesn’t want her fill ups to be expensive again. “Yeah, I drive a truck it doesn’t get very good gas mileage,” said Rogers.
It’s unclear if any other price increases are on the way beyond the bump that kicked in today.
