Drake leads push to trim menu of 'boutique' fuels for refiners

I understand that even small steps might help with the fuel problem our country is facing, but an even better option to help with the immediate price of fuel for all Americans would be to go after the speculators. They are in fact a BIG portion of what the cost of oil is. They raise the cost of a barrel of oil (at present day costs) between $30 to $60 a barrel. That is outrageous. Why aren't members of congress concentrating on what to do about that? Putting back the regulations that used to be in place that controlled that? Speculators that have no intention of taking possession of the oil are just trading it back and forth among themselves to raise the cost of it. During this time of crisis for America, that is just wrong. Speculators must be stopped. Send notice to your representatives here http://capwiz.com/sosnow/issues/alert/?alertid=11571321 Tell your senators and state reps that you want this issue addressed. I think it will make more of a difference than concentrating on boutique blends.

"Some folks will reflexively blast anything Rep Drake does, but you should be ashamed to let your personal animus toward her push you to post ignorant statements about technical subjects."

All you have to do is check Drake's voting record and you won't call it balsting Drake, but right-on! If you aren't signed up to congres,org where you can get the voting record of every elected official in your area, you should be. I've been wondering who was going to tell Drake how to think and what to say after Bush is out of office and it looks like it will be Karl Rove. But then again, Drake will not be re-elected to another term for any reason.

But we don't need to have several different summer blends that vary only slightly by state.

What we will avoid is having a surplus of one blend and a shortage of a slightly different blend a few hundred miles away that can't be relieved by shifting supply around.

It's not a solution to all problems, just a small simplification which will smooth out supply across the nation.

It costs more to refine gas to a higher, purer level, correct? So in order to have the effect price wise this discharge is supposed to, the gas companies would produce lower level gas, thus creating more ozone. Which in urban areas like ours, means your quality of air will be more poluted. Which is why the blends were required in the first place? To protect people's health and perhaps the environment as a sidenote. Thelma is obviously reacting to the people yelling about the price of gas, and putting being 'green' to the back seat. This again is not really a step forward in solving our problems. This would not do away with the ethanol blending, correct? As that is a federal mandate? Forgive my questions, as I am not completely educatated about botique fuels.

"The move could produce a higher average price for gas however, because refiners would opt to produce the cleaner-burning and more expensive fuels year-round, the study suggested."

So the price of gas would probably stay at the 'summer' level price all year round. Well that won't necessarily help pocketbooks, but it most likely will be good for the environment. Hopefully the wording of the document makes it clear that you have to provide the low level regular gas also, since so many americans drive vehicles that use that. The document needs to be completely specific. It could also, instead of reversing the blend requirement, suspend it for a period of 2 years to see what difference if any it makes. That way if we find that it's necessary again, they wouldn't have to go through the whole process of getting passed again. Suspend the requirement, don't just get rid of it.

Only on the Republican party can you have someone with only a high school education in a position of political pull. She's the dimwit responsible for Oceana debacle, bringing all the FA-18 Hornet squadrons in, and driving noise complaints through the roof.

These ridiculous local blends have been an obstacle to refinery efficiency for years and are largely responsible for the pre-Memorial Day price jump every year as refineries transition to summer blends.

It is not a complete fix, but it will do away with one piece of the refinery capacity problem.

Some folks will reflexively blast anything Rep Drake does, but you should be ashamed to let your personal animus toward her push you to post ignorant statements about technical subjects.

This is a small thing, but a good thing, and one long overdue.

Hopefully voters learn from their mistakes when it comes to Drake. She's been nothing but a bumbling mishap time and time again. An idiot. Thanks for letting me vent.

Way to go attack how many times they have been married real adult.. I known Thelma for 36 years.. did I vote for her No... But I know whom and why she married and it was not Money!!!! How about you try and find someone to marry that can spare you some human traits...

Incredible. Another useless republican now trying to solve our energy crisis. They had all those years to do something but instead chose to sit on their behind at the expense of hard working American tax payers. Now they're blame dems and tree huggers for their failures. Thelma Drake, why don't you draft a bill that will make your rich oil buddies drill the 60 million acres plus they already leased. You and your republicans buddies gave billions of our tax dollars and they haven't done a thing. Now you want to give them more land, parks and billions more. Where is our return on investment Thelma? Why don't you just give them America. Stop being a follower and start leading.

The high school graduate delegate, who married 3 times for money just can't get it together. Now she has invited Karl Rove to a fund raiser in VABEACH. Good Lord! Is there really anyone out there a fan of Rove? Well, yeah, con-seratives at the Beach would.

As usual, Thelma Drake sounds like she's trying yo woo uninformed voters with her grandstand plays. This would do nothing for the price or the economy, just more smoke, mirrors and BS.