By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-590021.mp3
Albany, NY – Over the weekend the average price of a gallon of gasoline went up 5 cents --- The latest Lundberg Survey says the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.18. A gallon of regular gas costs around $3.15 in the Capital Region, $3.24 in New York City. It's $3.59 in Chicago, and up over $4 in some parts of California and Colorado.
Oil companies are having another "record-profits" year: First quarter profits for Exxon-Mobil total nearly $9.3 billion. Royal Dutch Schell picked up more than $6.9 billion.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority CEO Peter Smith, along with several politicians and General Motors representatives, took the wraps off the E85 pumps at the Campus Mobil station on Western Avenue near the University at Albany, one of two gas stations in New York selling the fuel. E85 is 85 percent ethanol -- 15 percent gasoline ---
but Governor Eliot Spitzer, when speaking about New York's energy future, hasn't talked about ethanol, which was greatly favored by his predecessor, George Pataki, who eliminated state taxes on ethanol and initiated plans to install E85 pumps at all service stations along the Thruway...
General Motors' fleet account executive Brad Beauchamp says there is a trade-off when you fill up with E85: a loss of fuel economy.
Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.