EPA Mandate Fuels Frustration: Gasoline Prices Soar Across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware

PHILADELPHIA- Whether you’re driving in the Philadelphia Metro and beyond, South Jersey, or Delaware, drivers are paying high gas prices.

“Oh my God, they are outrageous,” remarked Brittany White of Delaware.

According to AAA, the average price per gallon of standard gas in Pennsylvania was $3.59 a month ago; it is currently 16 cents higher, at $3.75. “They are outrageous, pretty high, used to be a lot cheaper, but you can’t do much about it,” said Dillon Harding of Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, in Delaware, it rose 17 cents, from $3.29 to $3.46.

“$3.00, $3.19 was kind of reasonable, now it’s just getting out of hand, it seems like once it’s getting warm outside the prices went up sky high,” White remarked.

According to AAA, there are three key causes for the increase in gas demand. Crude oil prices are high due to tensions outside and in the Middle East, but the most important issue is the shift in gas blend from winter to summer.

“That switchover to summer blended gasoline is mandated by the EPA, the reason being, this blend, which is more expensive to produce, helps cut down on what we used to call smog, that damaging exhaust fumes that go into the air, damage the ozone layer,” said Jana Tidwell, a spokesperson for AAA Public Affairs.

AAA officials said this blend adjustment and rise occurs every year and will hopefully decrease as we approach summer.

“Gas prices are outrageous right now, it’s like, we are getting killed at the pump, I already got to pay insurance, it’s like when do I get a break on this thing,” Eric Pratt, a resident of New Jersey, told CNN.

For the time being, Pratt will not be enjoying a discount at the pump, even in his hometown of New Jersey, where many tourists go for cheaper gas.

“You’re breaking even coming over here trying to get gas now, but maybe to tell you the truth, I just got back from LA, gas prices are pretty okay here,” Pratt went on to say.

According to AAA, to conserve gas, you should empty your vehicle trunk since the lighter the vehicle, the less gas consumed, and drivers should drive at the speed limit.