During the Athens Press Club’s political forum at the Melting Point Monday night, 10th District candidates U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, R-Athens and challenger state Rep. Barry Fleming, R-Harlem gave some oil slick answers to the issue of how to lower gasoline prices at the pumps.

Both men said that by simply announcing today that we would begin drilling for oil in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge and off the Gulf Coast, consumers would benefit from an immediate price reduction on gasoline. The reason, they said, was that by telling the world we would begin tapping into our own resources, speculators would stop driving the cost of a barrels of oil up, and therefore our own wallets would feel relief instantly.

The AAA fuel gauge today shows that unleaded regular gasoline hit an average of $4.02 per gallon at the pumps in Athens. That doesn't mean that all gas stations are selling it for $4, but enough are selling it higher than $4 a gallon to average it out to $4.02. That also means that regular unleaded has gone up more than a penny a day per gallon for the past month.
What's difficult to understand and to get anyone to give a plausible answer is why Athens prices are higher than anywhere else in the state except Atlanta, and Athens prices are essentially the same as Atlanta's. Some say it's because we have to have lower-emission fuel.

We're looking for a few Athens-area residents who might add some perspective on high gas prices, especially when the gallon rate rises and passes $4. Please contact me at 706 208-2214 or don.nelson@onlineathens.com if you commute to Atlanta or travel equally long distances on a daily basis or if you know someone who does. Also looking for someone for whom $4 per gallon gasoline won't bother that much in terms of driving. Someone who either uses a scooter, bike or highly efficient car or who walks to work each day.