Low river level: Gasoline in McGrath, Alaska, hits $9.20/gal

[Newsjock]

Source: KTUU

A huge spike in gas prices is creating unrest in the town of McGrath, located 415 miles northwest of Anchorage on the Kuskokwim River.

... "(It's) pretty simple really. We woke up yesterday morning to prices that went from $5.96 a gallon on Friday to $9.20 a gallon yesterday morning," said Mayor Dustin Parker.

The winter nearly drained the city's unleaded fuel supply, forcing Crowley Petroleum Distribution to fly in a supply on Friday.

... Low river levels prevented Crowley's barge from bringing in the final load of fuel last fall; the city hasn't had a fuel barge in since last June.

... The earliest Crowley will be able to send a barge would be early June, but residents know it could be months after that because river levels are still too low.

Read more: http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=12387423

[high density]

1. So when you live in a remote area, you're entitled to cheap gas?

"For people who basically are living at subsistence levels, I think it's criminal that this is not regulated," Healy said.

Regulating the price of gas... Yeah, good luck with that.

The city council took up the issue Tuesday night. Parker says he's hopeful the city will fly in fuel at a lower cost.

So now they expect the city to subsidize the cost of gas. People will just end up paying for that through higher taxes instead of at the pump.

[Ikonoklast]

2. I though everyone in Alaska was a rugged individualist.

High prices on scarce resources and commodities kinda goes along with living on the other side of nowhere.

[Uncle Joe]

3. Could this low river level be a symptom of global warming climate change?

"Low river levels prevented Crowley's barge from bringing in the final load of fuel last fall; the city hasn't had a fuel barge in since last June."

Thanks for the thread, Newsjock.

[southernyankeebelle]

4. You choice to live in a remote area than you pay the price. Its the same way with people

who want to leave near the beach. You pay higher prices and insurance because you choose to live there.