dk23Jul 7, 2024
Peter Gleick
I'm a scientist. I believe in fact-based analysis.
But here's a conspiracy theory I totally believe in:
Fossil-fuel companies and producers manipulate gasoline prices in the run-up to elections.
Jul 7, 2024 at 9:39pmWeb
Show threadStephen Rees Jul 7, 2024

@petergleick

Fossil-fuel companies and producers manipulate gasoline prices ALL THE TIME!

Show threadKevin CianfariniJul 7, 2024
@petergleick https://www.rawstory.com/saudi-arabia-trump/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon
Inside the Saudi scheme for screwing Biden's election hopes

Have you noticed gas prices are rising? Get ready: you ain’t seen nothing yet.The bloodthirsty leader of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia loves his dictatorial soul-mate Donald Trump and is today setting the stage to intervene in November’s election in a big way, much like he did with a smaller test run ...

Raw Story - Celebrating 20 Years of Independent Journalism
Show threadtdietterichJul 8, 2024
@kevincianfarini @petergleick Presidents do it too; it's called the strategic petroleum reserve. There are many other factors, as well, of course. Has anyone built a decent causal model?
Show threadPēteris KrišjānisJul 7, 2024
@petergleick there is no conspiracy, Saudi and Russia has openly admitted of doing so.
Show threadJima Jul 8, 2024
@peteriskrisjanis @petergleick No, it's not a conspiracy theory, it's a conspiracy practice.
Show threadSablebadgerJul 7, 2024
@petergleick plenty of anecdotal evidence I bet
Show threadBrian DearJul 7, 2024

@petergleick

Absolutely.

Show threadDanielleJul 8, 2024
@petergleick also the conspiracy that causes us Californians to pay a huge and largely unexplained $$$$ surcharge/penalty at the pump.
Show threadjosh buermannJul 8, 2024

@eyeroll @petergleick

As governor Ronald Reagan won a carve out from the Clean Air Act allowing California to maintain a higher clean fuel standard than the rest of the country, limiting the state's gasoline supplies to the refineries that produce the unique blend.

Between that and the 80 cent/gallon gas tax California's higher prices are mostly explained.

https://www.ksby.com/homepage-showcase/heres-why-gas-always-costs-more-in-california

Here’s why gas always costs more in California

Gas prices in the United States have slid from their all-time peak in fall 2022, but there are drivers in at least one state who still pull up to the pump and cringe.

KSBY News
Show threadCatherine SchmidtJul 8, 2024
@petergleick of course they do…that is why it was so brilliant when Biden flooded the market with oil from our reserves…completely undercut the oil cartels….and we made money.
Show threadFrank Bennett 🇯🇵Jul 8, 2024
@petergleick What any oligarch would do.
Show threadJames 🦉 #FBPE Jul 8, 2024
@petergleick Big difference between conspiracies and conspiracy theories, and more yet to Conspiracy Theories as ideology. This is a pretty well known genuine conspiracy, which includes oil companies astroturfing anti-EV and anti-renewables narratives, and is up there with Philip Morris funding anti-climate change research to conceal its counter smoking related diseases research. And then there's the Phoebus Cartel:
https://youtu.be/j5v8D-alAKE?si=ZprIqebUW6D8vNPW
This is why we can't have nice things

YouTube
Show threadwilliam.maggosJul 8, 2024

@petergleick

if they have the power to without horrible repercussions and it would serve their interests, why not? competition can therefore prevent it but I'm guessing OPEC can do it.

Show threadThe Animal and the MachineJul 8, 2024
@petergleick @falcennial
Get maths on it and make it a proof.
Show threadzl2todJul 8, 2024
@petergleick
Fossil-fuel companies and producers manipulate gasoline prices after elections too.
https://mstdn.social/@markhburton/112749723868467674
Mark Burton (@[email protected])

The path is clear then: "North Sea oil and gas producers urged Britain's incoming Prime Minister Keir Starmer to provide clarity on his election promise to increase tax on the sector, warning it could lead to a rapid decline in output and revenue." So increase the #tax. North Sea oil producers urge Labour's Starmer for tax clarity | Reuters https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/north-sea-oil-producers-urge-labours-starmer-tax-clarity-2024-07-05/

Mastodon 🐘
Show threadPG1958WILLNOTCOMPLY 🇺🇸🇷🇴🇺🇦🇵🇸Jul 8, 2024
@petergleick
Hell, they don't need an election to manipulate prices! Summer's approach...raise prices, holidays are coming...raise prices, pirates take over a tanker...raise prices. Oil prices tank...keep prices high and tell us they are still processing the expensive oil!
Show threadBuckJul 8, 2024
@petergleick 1000% they do ... they know how to keep their own bread buttered and they have the direct levers to help make it happen. The more we get off the crack cocaine of fossil fuels, the better.
Show threadDatalessJul 8, 2024
@petergleick @artemis Oh shit that’s plausible.
Show threadMark OheJul 8, 2024

@petergleick

It’s clearly not a conspiracy theory.

Show threadWandering StarJul 8, 2024
@petergleick I don't know if that's a conspiracy theory. A conspiracy usually implies more than just silently winking from across the room. If they all know what to do, because it aligns with their interests and habits, they just do it.
Show threadEric R. ScottSep 6, 2024
@petergleick it's weird to think the president has any kind of direct control over gas prices, but so many do