Gas Prices Soaring — Find the Cheapest in San Rafael

In Marin and across California, residents awoke Friday to find that gas prices had increased significantly overnight by as much as 20 cents. The average price of regular gas across the state rose to $4.49 a gallon — the highest in the nation. On Monday, Oct. 1, the California average was $4.18.

The Bay Area average is even higher, at $4.52 a gallon. The cheapest gas in San Rafael Friday was $4.35 at the ARCO station on 1401 Second St., and at the 76 Station at 100 Marinwood Dr at $4.49, according to GasBuddy.com.

While gas prices have spiked around the nation, refinery outages and pipeline problems have added to woes in California, causing a decrease in supply coming out of California's refineries, including the Chevron refinery in Richmond. 

Among the recent disruptions were an Aug. 6 fire at a Chevron Corp. refinery in Richmond left one of the region's largest refineries producing at a reduced capacity. A power failure in Southern California has affected an Exxon Mobil Corp. refinery, and a Chevron pipeline that moves crude to Northern California also was shut down, according to the Associated Press.

This time 10 years ago, in 2002, the average price for gas in California was $1.55 a gallon, according to EnergyAlmanac.ca.gov. Last year, it was $3.82 a gallon.

How will you cope with the increase in prices? Will you drive less? Will you use alternate modes, like a bike? Will you carpool to work? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

See what else is happening in San Rafael:

1. Sports Complex Critics and 10-Foot Clapper Rail Rally in Front of Library
2. Council Approves Marin's Toughest Smoking Ban
3. Pier 1 Imports to Open in Montecito Shopping Center
4. Car Accident on Highway 101 Slows Afternoon Traffic
5. Google Says Driverless Cars Could Be on the Road in Less Than 10 Years - Should They?

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