CFACT News -- Federal appeals court judges recently heard a challenge to the Obama EPA’s approval of E15, a blend of 85 percent gasoline and 15 percent ethanol, to be sold in cars from the model year 2001 and newer. EPA claims it has the power under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to grant waivers allowing the sale of the new blend in certain vehicles. Currently, ethanol is not allowed to comprise more than 10 percent of the fuel when it is blended with gasoline sold at the pump.  (read more)

TribLive -- If you're lucky enough to live in some parts of the United States, you may see gas pump prices fall to about $3.25 a gallon or less in the next week or two. Even West Coast drivers should get some relief from prices that are still above $4 a gallon.

Retail gasoline prices dropped by a penny to a national average of $3.71 per gallon on Friday. That's 22 cents less than the high of $3.94 per gallon reached in early April. Lower oil prices are the main reason. Weaker demand is also helping reduce prices, as consumers watch their spending in the sluggish economic recovery.

Motorists on the West Coast, in Illinois and New York pay the most for gas -- from $3.83 per gallon to $4.54 per gallon -- according to AAA, Wright Express and the Oil Price Information Service. The lowest prices, ...  (read more)

Green Car Reports -- Hybrid vehicles cost more upfront than comparable gasoline models, but get better fuel economy.

So will you save money in the long run?

To make the comparisons easier and more accurate, the FuelEconomy.gov site has launched a new comparison tool that provides a "Years to Payback" number based on the manufacturer's quoted base prices and the EPA gas-mileage ratings for comparable hybrids and non-hybrids.

The new comparison tool can be found by clicking on the "Hybrids Can Save You Money" menu option.  (read more)

The Baltimore Sun -- A theft this month of 311 gallons of gasoline from a station in Baltimore is one in a series of similar incidents, according to the station's owner, who says people have been disabling pumps and allowing friends and relatives to fill their tanks for free

Mehdi Rezakhan, who owns BP stations in Remington and East Baltimore, said each businesses has been hit once, and stations owned by friends have been taken several times, one for 1,800 gallons of gasoline.

On Saturday, city police could confirm only one theft at Rezakhan's BP station in Remington, which occurred either May 6 or May 7. Police reported no suspects and said they had no idea how the thieves stole such large amounts of gasoline.

But Rezakhan, 35, said he suspected someone with knowledge of pumps was using a hammer ...  (read more)

Corning Leader -- Cheaper gas prices won’t be enough to get more people on the road this summer.

Marty Jones, of Elmira, said he, his wife Carrie and their three children have often traveled to South Florida for an annual summer vacation, but gas prices will change that this summer.

“Because of the gas prices, they’re too high, and the economy as a whole, we’re going to do something different this year,” Jones said.

He and his family plan to travel to Niagara Falls later this summer.

“It’s closer than Florida, it will cost less in gas and I’m sure it will be a good time,” Jones said.

Many Americans share that point of view on gas prices, the economy as well as job security.

Economists and tourism experts are expecting only a small uptick in summer
travelers.

Gas prices are lower, but still high  (read more)

The Washington Post -- Eds: Edits fourth paragraph to clarify Memorial Day weekend prices expected to be $3.60 a gallon or a little bit higher.

If you’re lucky enough to live in some parts of the United States, you may see gas pump prices fall to around $3.25 a gallon or less in the next week or two. Even West Coast drivers should get some relief from prices that are still above $4 a gallon.

Retail gasoline prices dropped by a penny to a national average of $3.71 per gallon on Friday. That’s 22 cents less than the high of $3.94 per gallon reached in early April. Lower oil prices are the main reason. Weaker demand is also helping to push down prices, as consumers watch their spending in the sluggish economic recovery.

Motorists on the West Coast, in Illinois and New York are paying the most for gas — from  (read more)

How stuff works --
The average American car today gets about 20 miles per gallon (mpg) of gasoline. Eighty years ago, Henry Ford's Model T got 25 to 30 mpg and that car could run on gas or ethanol. What happened? In the decades since the Model T, car technology, speed, safety and comfort have improved tremendously. But in terms of fuel economy, we're still decades behind. With concerns about gas prices, global warming and air pollution, fuel efficiency has already become a point of concern for car buyers. Let's explore the question that a lot of people are asking: Can a car get 100 miles on a single gallon of gas?

We're not the only ones asking the question. Google -- yes, the search engine Google -- is trying to find out.
On June 20, 2007, Google announced that its founders' philanthropic organization, Go  (read more)

Forbes -- A long overdue power breakfast with Loews chairman, CEO Jim Tisch placed a mighty sharp focus on all the positive ramifications of the explosion in natural gas discoveries in the US. For a solid hour Tisch sang the praises of the “disruptive technology” that will result from the finding and exploitation across the US of an abundance of natural gas.

First, no one realizes the extent of potential usage of natural gas, opines Tisch, who owns quite a bit in Loews and is looking for more, thank you very much. Gas has become crucial in the delivery of electric power in the US– and will in the future make all forms of transportation more efficient, such as trucks that now use expensive diesel oil.

Second, the US can find and produce unlimited amounts of natural gas once the market  (read more)

Time -- The conventional thinking had it that rising gas prices would stifle the sales of SUVs. Lane-clogging Suburbans and Explorers would slowly disappear with loads of drivers turning to smaller, fuel-efficient cars. And yet, even as gas prices remain relatively high, SUV sales have never been better. What gives?

If you had to name a heyday for the American sports utility vehicle, most people would point to the ’90s, when gigantic SUVS such as the Hummer, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Excursion were first sold to the public. According to CNN Money, 1 in 5 new cars sold in the late ’90s and early ’00s was an SUV. That sounds like a lot of cars—until you find out that nearly 1 in 3 vehicles sold today is an SUV.

High gas prices were expected to hammer SUV sales. In March, when gas prices ...  (read more)

Hydorcarbon Processing -- Compared with typical gasoline, issues include damaged valves and valve seats, misfires, lower performance, engine damage, poor fuel economy and increased emissions.

Auto repair costs for consumers could rise due to adverse effects of fuel containing 15% ethanol blends (E15), according to new results from a two-year study on engine durability.

The study was conducted by FEV, a longtime consultant to the US Environmental Protection Agency, on behalf of the Coordinating Research Council (CRC).

The CRC study released Wednesday showed adverse results from E15 use in certain popular, high-volume models of cars, its authors said.

Problems included damaged valves and valve seats, which can lead to loss of compression and power, diminished vehicle performance, misfires, engine damage, as well  (read more)

ABC News -- After a drumbeat of complaints from energy companies that the Obama administration is blocking domestic oil and gas production, the Interior department released a report claiming that U.S. oil and gas producers are sitting on millions of acres of idle government land leases.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar says that if producers were sincere about wanting to increase energy production, they would activate millions of acres of public land already leased to them. What should they be doing on that land? Drilling.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Salazar says the administration wants companies "to develop the tens of millions of acres they've already leased but have left sitting idle."

A report released by the Department of the Interior claims that of 36 million government acres ...  (read more)

Bloomberg Businessweek -- U.S. automakers have until 2025 to raise the fuel economy on their cars and trucks to 54.5 miles per gallon—double the current standard—or face government fines. The industry has spent years pouring billions of dollars into research and development to comply with the mandate. Now it may get a boost from an unexpected source: the Pentagon.

Government researchers at a new $60 million laboratory are road-testing dozens of alternative fuel technologies for fighting vehicles, from converting body heat into electricity to perfecting fuel cells that transform hydrogen into power—and they plan to share them with U.S. carmakers. “The military operates in very extreme environments,” says.....  (read more)

Detroit News -- It found that the new formula, 85 percent gasoline and 15 percent ethanol, damaged two of the eight vehicles used as guinea pigs in the high-mileage test.

 (read more)

LA TImes -- Analysts said that a crude-oil glut from increasing domestic production and imports from Canada helped drive U.S. oil prices below $100. They added that a change in the flow of a key U.S. oil pipeline that begins this week could help reduce retail gasoline prices.

The U.S. Energy Department says that crude oil inventories at a storage hub in Cushing, Okla., reached a record 45.1 million barrels on May 11, breaking the old record of 41.9 million barrels set in early April 2011.

The Energy Department also said that last year the supplies at Cushing peaked in April and "generally declined slowly for the rest of the year." That's not happening this year, the Energy Department said, as the amount of crude at Cushing has continued to build.

 (read more)

GasBuddy Blog -- Many many times I receive questions from readers "why if crude oil prices have fallen to $XX are gasoline prices still high?" This is a top question I receive, and while the answer is somewhat complex, I'll try to make it as simple to understand as I can.

You see one, or maybe two types of crude oil and their price listed. Many times, the types are West Texas Intermediate crude oil, and Brent crude oil. The problem with this is that there are many different types of crude oil, each with their own price. Depending on a refinery's location, they may use an oil that many don't know about or follow the price. So while the price of one or two types of oil drops, one might drop more than the other. Bottom line is that every type of dozens...  (read more)

Green Car Reports -- A new study released today by the Coordinating Research Council says that E15 gasoline, which contains 15 percent ethanol, could damage the engines of certain high-volume car and truck models.

The two-year study was conducted on eight different engines from the 2001 through 2009 model years, with a pair of vehicles for each engine tested--one on conventional gasoline, one on E15.

Two of the eight engines running on E15 suffered lower performance, misfiring, reduced fuel economy, and damaged valves and valve seats. A third showed tailpipe emissions that increased above the legal limit.  (read more)

Technology Review -- Delphi, a major parts supplier to automakers, is developing an engine technology that could improve the fuel economy of gas-powered cars by 50 percent, potentially rivaling the performance of hybrid vehicles while costing less.

Delphi's approach, is called gasoline-direct-injection compression ignition, that makes use of advanced fuel injection and air intake and exhaust controls, many of which are available on advanced engines today.

...researchers found that if they injected the gasoline in three precisely timed bursts, they could avoid the too-rapid combustion that's made some previous experimental engines too noisy. At the same time, they could burn the fuel faster than in conventional gasoline engines,...  (read more)

The Miami Herald -- Cheaper gas won’t be enough to get many more Americans on the road this summer. They’re still too worried about their jobs and the economy.
Economists and tourism experts are expecting only a small uptick in summer travelers. Gas prices are lower, but still high enough to keep some Americans off the road. The job market is improving, but still shaky. And household debt remains high.
Those who do travel won’t feel free to splurge. The bulk of road trippers, experts say, will take shorter trips and reduce food and entertainment spending to conserve cash.
“Travel is about security,” said John Larson, vice president for IHS Global Insight, the firm that analyzed the AAA study. “If you feel less secure about your future, you may be less willing to take this trip.”  (read more)

GasBuddy Blog -- Greece has been all over the news lately, and their situation only looks to get worse. Banks have seen citizens running to take their money out, unsure of the future. Over 3 billion euros has been withdrawn in the past few days, with 800 million euros being withdrawn in a single day, one of the largest single day pullouts in the country. You might be asking what the heck this has to do with gas prices in the U.S.- I'll get there.

You see, the situation in Greece has devalued the euro significantly, driving the dollar higher because of the situation. Since oil is globally traded in dollars, when the dollar outperforms the euro, oil prices tend to fall, and thus gasoline prices drop. When the opposite occurs, oil prices rise, and thus...  (read more)

Huffington Post -- The current market for the renewable energy sector in the United States and around the world is a mix of challenge and opportunity. However, the long-term future of clean energy is bright.

According to our recent report, "Who's Winning the Clean Energy Race? 2011 Edition," last year saw record private investments globally. And the United States received more investments for clean energy than any other nation. These investments resulted in record deployment levels -- 83.5 gig watts of clean generating capacity overall, including an unprecedented 30 gig watts of solar.

But like other emerging high-technology industries before it, the clean-energy sector is going through a period of profound transition. The industry faces powerful financial and policy cross currents.

The most important  (read more)

CBS News -- (CBS News) - The price of gas continues to fall. AAA says the national average for regular has fallen to $3.73, down 21 cents in the past six weeks. But if you pay at the pump, thieves may be waiting for you, ready to skim the information off your bank card and siphon the money out of your account.

It's a scam called "skimming" and it costs the financial industry more than $350,000 a day, as CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports.

Volunteer fireman Mark Young recently got out of the hospital after neck surgery, only to be dealt another blow when he checked his bank balance.

"I had $2,300 in the bank, and it said I only had $1,000 in there," Young said.

Surveillance video shows a man that police say is suspected of stealing Young's debit card number and going on a ...  (read more)

Huffington Post -- Gas prices may feel high in the U.S., but they are much higher in the rest of the world.

We have the 12th lowest gas prices on a list of 55 countries compiled by Bloomberg, cited by blogger Barry Ritholtz. Most other wealthy nations have significantly higher gas prices.

In the U.S., gas prices average $4.19 per gallon, according to Bloomberg. In contrast, gas prices are $5.75 per gallon in Canada, $6.75 per gallon in Australia, $8.84 per gallon in the United Kingdom, and $9.35 per gallon in Italy.

Gas prices are lower in the U.S. to a large extent because the U.S. subsidizes oil production and levies relatively low gas taxes. Other countries tax gas consumption more heavily, according to Bloomberg. Gas prices are highest in Norway at $9.69 per gallon, where ...  (read more)

USA Today -- Williamsport, Pa., used to be celebrated for its past — as the 1938 birthplace of Little League Baseball, which still plays its annual World Series nearby. Then natural gas was found.

Now this once-sleepy chunk of north-central Pennsylvania is a star on the map of an emerging national energy rush. Six hotels are new or being built, and about 100 companies have moved to town, sometimes so fast that the head of the local Chamber of Commerce has told executives wanting guided tours to wait.
"I've said, 'Look sir, get in line,' " says Vince Matteo, chief executive of the Williamsport/Lycoming chamber. "Now I know people in their 20s with high school (diplomas) making $120,000 a year."

Much of Wall Street and Washington is seized by the hope that the U.S.'s energy future will be as bright ..  (read more)

EGM CarTech -- Automakers have been working hard to try to meet tightening government fuel economy regulations, and designer Michael Arbaugh has proposed a controversial way to help reduce weight, a big factor with fuel economy.
The year 2016 is rapidly approaching, and automakers are being forced to improve their U.S. fleet’s mpg ratings, from 27.5 mpg to 341 mpg for passenger cars, with a 23.5 mpg target for light trucks. This is difficult for a number of reasons, and the new requirement fights for automaker’s attention along with rapidly advancing technology and higher safety standards
Arbaugh’s vision is to do away with CD players in automobiles as a way to save an average of 5-lbs in weight, which is a big deal for automakers. Not only does it lighten the load but it also opens up some highly ....  (read more)

GasBuddy Blog -- The Energy Information Administration released its weekly report on the condition of petroleum inventories in the United States today.

Here are some highlights:

CRUDE INVENTORIES:
Crude oil inventories increased by 2.1 million barrels to a total of 381.6 million barrels. At 381.6 million barrels, inventories are 11.3 million barrels above last year (3.1%) and are above the upper limit of the average range.

GASOLINE INVENTORIES:
Gasoline inventories decreased by 2.8 million barrels to 204.3 million barrels. At 204.3 million barrels, inventories are down 1.6 million barrels, or 0.8% lower than last year. Here's how individual regions and their gasoline inventory fared last week: East Coast (N/C); Midwest...  (read more)