To the people upset about Washington’s high gas prices: All the Western states are high, according to the AAA website. There are more refineries in the South, fewer in the West, and some of those are under repair, leaving lower supply for our demand.
Our state gas tax is 49 cents a gallon, and the carbon tax funds the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The national average state gas tax is 29 cents, the national average per gallon is $3.82. Trading the national average tax for Washington’s tax, a gallon here should cost around $4, but it’s actually $5.10. The higher price is coming mostly from the oil companies. The 20-cent difference in tax is a better investment in the future than the extra dollar going to oil profits, which doubled in 2022.
Big Oil is making big bank on the short supply. Anger over high prices is justified. Aim it where it belongs, at the oil companies.
