The Tri-State Commute

 As gasoline prices continue to rise, people who commute to work in the Tri-State continue to be the ones who suffer.

            According to a report by the Charlotte Observer, gasoline prices have risen for fifty straight days across the United States, with prices in the Tri-State reaching as high as $2.80 in most areas.

            While gasoline prices affect all of America, the Tri-State seems to be affected a little more, as many people in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia commute to their places of work.

            Sunoco Chemicals Plant, located in Haverhill Ohio, has people commuting from as far away as Huntington (30 miles), McDermott, Ohio (32 miles) and Grayson Ky. (37 miles).

            Steve Arnett, General Foreman of Instrumentation at Sunoco, who lives 29 miles away in McDermott, Ohio, said when he received gas money for work it has increased throughout the weeks.

            “When I got money from my wife for gas it started at just $20 a week,” Arnett said, “but then she had to add $10.  Now it takes $50 to fill up my tank so I can make it to work each week.”

            Along with driving to and from work everyday, most employees of Sunoco have to drive throughout the plant, which sometimes can be as small a trip as one or two miles, and sometimes can reach as high as 10 miles a day.

            As the month has gone by, gas prices have seen a significant increase. According to AAA, gas prices in Huntington have risen by 33 cents, and prices in Ironton, Ohio and Ashland, Ky, have risen by over 46 cents.

            Bevi Powell, director of communications for AAA East Central, said that demand for gasoline will have prices remain high for most of the summer.

            “We usually don’t see prices fall until after Labor Day.” Johnson said. “The demand for gasoline is so high during this time period with people taking vacations that usually oil prices don’t tend to fall until after that time.”

            But one thing that bothers many Sunoco Chemicals workers is when they take trips to other places for deliveries or meetings, they see lower gas prices in the different areas.

            Larry Quillen, shift supervisor at the plant from Raceland Ky., said that when taking trips to another Sunoco owned plant in Kenova, W.Va, he was upset that gas was cheaper there that in the area near the plant. The price in Kenova was $2.65 while the price in Raceland was $2.84.

            I don’t understand why there is such a difference in these places that aren’t that far apart from each other.” Quillen said, “it makes no sense for the 20 cent difference when we are right near each other.”

            While most people don’t understand why gasoline prices are so different in areas so close, Johnson said that there is an explanation for the price increase.

            “The different areas in the Tri-State require different blends of gasoline.” Johnson said. “They have to meet EPA standards for that region, which sometimes makes it more expensive to manufacture.”

            Johnson also pointed out how oil has increased in price over the past months. In December crude oil was selling for around $30 to $40 dollars a barrel.  Now according to CNNMoney.com a barrel of crude oil has increased above $71.

            With gas prices rising, people are looking for alternatives to finding a way to work.  The most well known idea, carpooling, seems like a good idea, but schedules and living locations kind of make that idea obsolete.

            “Everyone who lives near someone who works at the plant has a different schedule than one another.” Arnett said about the notion of carpooling. “That and most people don’t live by one another so carpooling is almost impossible.”

            According to Johnson, AAA has some ideas that will save gas for everyone without having to make big sacrifices.

            “Keep your car light. The heavier your car is the more gas it will use,” Johnson said. “Routine car maintenance is also very important as well as keeping a steady speed. The faster you go the more gas you use. “

            While the plant doesn’t involve carpooling or have ideas for ways to save gas, Quillen said they can still do something to help out its employees.

            “They can give us gas cards. We are Sunoco, it wouldn’t hurt to have a way to give us some money for gas,” Quillen said. “Maybe instead of driving our cars through the plant we can have golf carts to help us get around.”

            As gas prices continue to rise, Tri-State employees will still have to continue finding ways for commuting to work, causing a pain at the pump for all.