Petroleum Expert: Prices to heat a home could double or triple this winter

Start saving now – prices could skyrocket this winter. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – Prices to heat a home in Central Illinois could sometimes double or even triple.

“It’s going to be an extremely expensive winter to heat your home, whether it’s natural gas, propane, or heating oil. We have seen the prices of all three of those really skyrocket because of Russia’s invasion,” GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan told WJBC. “So natural gas, you can expect your home heating bill to be maybe two to three times what it normally is. Propane and heating oil may be beyond that.

And all of this again, because of curtailment of energy flowing out of Russia due to their war.”

According to DeHaan, Russia is one of the most significant oil and natural gas producers.

“Now that they’ve basically cut off the flow of natural gas to Europe, Europe is knocking on the door of natural gas producers in the U.S. and basically offering a higher price, and that is siphoning some of the natural gas here in the U.S. over to Europe, and that in turn is driving up our natural gas prices.

Another problem – refinery fires are hurting the supply chain of diesel.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…