Taking a pounding at the gas pump

While residents in the Lower 48 enjoy the lowest gasoline prices in nearly five years, we’re scratching our heads in Alaska while paying at the pump.

A national survey conducted by oil industry analyst Trilby Lundberg released Sunday shows the price of regular unleaded gasoline has dropped 22 cents a gallon over the past two weeks. The national average price of $1.75 a gallon is the lowest since March 2004. This is good news for those in the Lower 48 looking to stretch their dollars during this latest recession.

It’s also still a mystery exactly why Alaska — a state that produces considerable amounts of domestic oil and has oil refining capabilities — continues to have the highest prices at the pump in the nation. AAA reports that in Wasilla, the average price of regular unleaded, while down from summer highs well over $4, is still $2.59 a gallon, more than 80 cents over the national average.

The rapid rise of Alaska gasoline prices concerned state officials enough to launch an investigation. The probe concludes Alaska prices are falling more slowly than everywhere else because our refineries are having trouble staying in the black.

Geographically, Alaska is far removed from the Lower 48 and it would be unrealistic to expect we would always pay less than the rest of the nation. That said, we deserve better when filling up.

That Alaska pays the highest per gallon for gasoline in the United States is embarrassing. The same would be true if residents of Idaho paid substantially more for potatoes or Washington residents paid more than anyone else for apples.

During a campaign visit to the Frontiersman prior to the Nov. 4 election, Mark Begich said he’s as frustrated as anyone over Alaska’s gas prices. Over the past 18 months, our prices rose faster and more steeply than the rest of the nation, and now are falling at a snail’s pace compared to the Lower 48, a phenomenon Begich said deserves attention from our state’s national delegation.

We agree. Now that he’s set to be our next U.S. senator, having upset incumbent Sen. Ted Stevens, Begich has an opportunity to make good on this pledge.

What has changed over the last 18 months to warrant this drastic turnaround in our local energy market? If the state’s refineries cannot turn a profit, how can this be remedied? Do we need to take measures to ensure more of our own oil is being refined and distributed here at home? Do we need more refining capacity or more production from the North Slope, and if so, how can we make this happen?

That we pay more for gasoline than anyone else in the nation is a symptom. We hold Begich to his promise to seek a diagnosis.