I was reading an article in the DTV (dead tree version) LA Times about the recent flux in gas prices here in California. The prices went up something like 18 cents, on average, in just a week or so. According to the article, what happened was that a couple of refineries were out of commission for maintenance, and then a pipeline in Phoenix Arizona shut down. Because California's refineries supply oil for neighboring states like Arizona, this caused a shortage in the State itself. Because California has its own formula for gasoline (that supposedly burns cleaner), we can't import gasoline from, say, the East when we have a shortage.

The article indicated that the balance between supply and demand is so precarious that a few refineries and pipe lines going down is all it takes to hike gas prices. And that got me thinking. If some environmentalist extremists wanted to do some good... er, damage, all they'd have to do is knock out a few pipelines and refineries. If gas prices go up moderately and it stays up for a while, there's a good chance people will at least start driving their SUVs less, and possibly even prefer more fuel efficient cars when purchasing new vehicles. In fact, it seems like high gas prices everywhere else in the world have proven to be a significant motivator in improving fuel economy and lowering dependence on automobiles to start with...