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What's With the Price of Gasoline?


© Linda Bond

Each spring, we have learned to expect an increase in gasoline prices, and this year is no exception. Based on the news reports, prices are jumping right on schedule. But why?

To research this question, I trotted out a few reference books and began an investigation into fossil fuels, so called because they reportedly result from the breakdown of fossils which contain carbon, a highly useful material. These fuels include coal, oil and natural gas. Coal is derived when plant remains (starting out as peat) are subjected to a long process of exposure to pressure, first resulting in a dark-brown type of coal called lignite. This is followed by subbituminous coal caused by greater pressure, and then bituminous or soft coal. Even greater pressure eventually turns this soft coal to "anthracite," the hardest coal of all.

Oil is a related form of fossil fuel which is found in a liquid state, although rather gooey. Different oil fields produce different types of oil. The largest, the Ghawar field in Saudi Arabia, was discovered in 1948, and measures 150 miles by 22 miles. In the U.S., the Permian Basin of southeast New Mexico and western and northwestern Texas is the largest oil field, and covers about 100,000 square miles. Natural gas is a fossil fuel which is stored under pressure and often generated in garbage heaps that are allowed to "simmer" with rotting vegetative matter. But don't expect to run a gas line from that heap to your house! It has to be kept under control.

By the way, in addition to fossil fuels, there are other forms of energy we use for power and heat. All of these energy forms are based on the three major types of energy which are found continuously in our environment. Geothermal energy is contained in the earth's crust and rises to the surface in the form of steam or hot water. These are often seen in the form of geysers (like Old Faithful) and hot mineral springs. Solar radiation comes to us from the sun, and you feel it on a cold day when you stand out in the sunshine. Because of the way our bodies absorb sunshine when we stand in it, the same temperature on an overcast day feels much colder than it does on a day when the sun is shining.

Finally, there's tidal and wave energy. This is most readily seen when the tides of the ocean ebb and flow. In some location, generators are constructed to take advantage of the water power as it flows through the generator blades. This is one of the major types of energy which is being researched in hopes of harnessing it's "free" production value.

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