Alta Mayhugh|Williston Herald Sharon Fessler of Williston fills up her car last Wednesday at M&H in Williston. The drop in gas prices has some people happy because they don’t have to spend as much on fuel as they did just a few months ago, but others concerned about the falling oil prices that goes with it.
Compare that to about three months ago, when gas was around $3.85 a gallon. The drop in price of gas has many people thrilled and less worried about the cost of commuting, while others are concerned about the fact lower gas prices means lower oil value.
While filling up his truck and M&H last Wednesday, Ed Falkenhagen of Fairview said he was pleased with the gas prices.
“It’s about time!” he said about the lower prices.
Bob Johnson of Epping, who moved to the area from Seattle last month, believes it’s odd how the price of gas has changed in the past few months. However, “I’m not complaining,” he said. Don Knapp of Culbertson said it used to take $90 to fill up his tank, but now it’s about $50.
“You can fill up for about half of what you used to,” Knapp added.
Sharon Fessler of Williston said lower gas prices will help her budget and may give her more money to spend on Christmas gifts. It used to cost her $50 to fill up her Honda Accord, but now it’s about $30.
“I was hoping for that. It is kind of a surprise,” Fessler said.
Jessica Vallevik of rural Williston commutes to town for work and to run errands. When gas was more expensive, she spent $400-$500 a month on fuel commuting. Now she spends about $200 less.
“That’s an extra $200 I can put in my pocket or spend for Christmas,” Vallevik said.
Darla Greaves of Williston filled her tank at Simonson and said it costs her about half as much to fill up as it did a few months ago. However, drops in gas prices don’t bode well for the oil industry North Dakota is so dependent upon, she said.
“That means oil’s lower, too, so that’s probably not so good for the economy,” Greaves said.
Ryan Avery of Williston agrees.
“I don’t like oil prices being as low as they are because that’s not good for the economy,” he said, adding he doesn’t do a lot of driving, so the lower prices don’t impact him that much.
The value of oil remains a concern for North Dakotans for its importance to the state. Last Tuesday, an Associated Press article reported that North Dakota ranks fifth among oil-producing states.
State Department of Mineral Resources director Lynn Helms said North Dakota recently passed Oklahoma. He says the state's western oil fields are pumping out about 188,000 barrels of oil each day.
Texas ranks first, followed by Alaska, California and Louisiana.
In the article, Helms said activity in the western oil patch is staying strong, even though oil prices have declined steeply in recent weeks.
Comments
concernedresident wrote on Dec 7, 2008 9:17 AM:
aullman wrote on Dec 4, 2008 10:16 PM:
Hopefully, we wil have learned our lesson and continue to develope alternative energy and conservation programs even though oil seems very affordable for the moment.
One really easy way to conserve on fuel is for employers to support remote work programs for white collar workers.
Home telecommuting is one option. Remote offices are another option.
Remote Office Centers lease individual offices, internet and phone systems to workers from different companies in shared centers located around the city and suburbs. ROCs allow workers to have an office down the street, so they can save time, gas and roadway congestion.
ROCs are fairly new, but can be found in many cities by searching the internet for "Remote Office Centers" in quotes. "
rshackleford wrote on Nov 30, 2008 10:32 AM: