October 26, 2009
Monday

Anchorage , Alaska - Research released Friday by Representatives Chris Tuck and Pete Petersen (both D-Anchorage) finds that Alaskans continue to pay sky high prices for gas at the pump. Tuck and Petersen showcased the findings at the Alaska Federation of Native Energy hearing Friday. They also urged support for their anti-price gouging bill (HB68), which will particularly help families struggling to make ends meet.

"There are families in Alaska living paycheck to paycheck. It would make a big difference to save a couple hundred bucks on gas, to free up that money for food or other necessities," said Tuck.

"While energy solutions for rural and urban areas vary greatly, cutting gas prices at the pump down to fair levels helps people in every community," said Petersen.

"Many possible energy solutions, like hydro, take time and money. This is something we can do right now for very little cost to the state," added Tuck.

"We should be paying fair prices for gas that's ours to begin with. Alaska produces more crude oil than any state but Texas, and far more crude oil per capita than any other state," continued Petersen.

Research findings include that as of October 20, 2009:

• Alaska's gas price at the pump is 41 percent higher than the average state price. Alaska's price after tax is $3.268, while the average state price is $2.322.
• Alaska's gas price at the pump (after state taxes) is 17 percent higher than the 2nd highest cost state, Hawaii, which imports 100 percent of its gas.
• When gas prices at the pump are compared on a per capita basis, Alaska's gas prices are even more exorbitant. Alaska's prices are 90.1 cents more expensive than North Dakota, which is the second most expensive small population state.

Both Tuck and Petersen sit on the House Energy Committee and have travelled around Alaska listening to concerns about high energy costs from rural and urban residents.

The anti-price gouging bill (HB 68) sits in the House Labor and Commerce Committee and sponsors have requested an interim hearing on the bill.

Download related information:

Alaskan Consumer Gas Prices As Compared to the Rest of the Nation pdf

America's Most Expensive Gas: Alaskan Consumer Gasoline Prices Compared to the Rest of the Nation pdf

Source of News:

Representatives Pete Petersen & Chris Tuck
petersen.akdemocrats.org
tuck.akdemocrats.org

 

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