As an engineer, here's how I look at the idea of pumping water from Mississippi to the West

[Gunny]

Yep, that would be me: driving diesels for over 30 years.

Back then, in the single dollar prices of fuel days, auto diesel was consistently cheaper than gasoline by an average 50 cents per gallon. Diesel began to escalate in cost during the Obama administration because of the ravages of the EPA. They required a new and extensive refinement process and diesel has been high ever since.

I was an organic truck farmer the FIRST time diesel reached $5.00 / gallon. My wallet took a whuppin'.

Try Googling terms like sustainable diesel, sustainable jet fuel, new diesel technology, etc. You will see a lot of hope on the horizon. We are going through an hysteria driven by politicians trying to appeal to a much younger but ignorant class of voter. The ICE is not going anywhere.

Moved to Plano, TX in '99 and kept a receipt for regular gas for my Chevy S-10 where I paid $.89/gal!!!! Good ol' days. I will concur, ignorant. Mild definition of what I think about our young people these days.

 

[Gunny]

I worked at a gas station during the 1973 oil embargo. Hi test (premium) was 30 cents per gallon. Diesel was a few cents cheaper. There was wailing and gnashing of teeth generally at the thought the price would soar to OMG, 50 cents. There was a huge movement to diesel vehicles over the next few years and the cost of diesel correspondingly increased dramatically, thanks to our old friend supply/demand. Way before Mr. Obama. History, not politics...

Remember $.39. I must not be old enough. lol Pretty sure Glen was mad in the early to mid 90's so it must've taken a jump then as well.

 

[Paladin]

Got my first license in Dallas in 1960. 14 was legal in TX at the time. Texas Rangers conducted the drivers part of the test. Whoooaaa!
Regular was $.17 at the Violet stations.
The first u-pump I can remember was Gas-a-Mat.

 

[flowerbug]

Facts are amazing

yes, they are, the point about using water to grow corn means that the midwest where rains fall instead of using irrigation means that the water issue isn't quite as dire.

the point about diesel and gasoline being expensive just points further to using solar and wind for electric vehicles. once you stop burning fossil fuels all the time it gets cheaper to do things, but there is the issue of the cost of the transition, but that's already been going and will continue.

 

[KBJ]

Wasn't that 100+ octane? I inherited a '67 Bonneville (motorcycle) that was designed to run on 100 octane fuel. I had to retard the ignition timing a couple of degrees to stop it knocking on modern day gas. Still a good ride though. Thanks, uncle Bob.

My ‘73 Bonneville 750 Triumph loves to run on 100 low lead Aviation fuel.

 

[Rivergoer]

 

[scubatim]

Got my first license in Dallas in 1960. 14 was legal in TX at the time. Texas Rangers conducted the drivers part of the test. Whoooaaa!
Regular was $.17 at the Violet stations.
The first u-pump I can remember was Gas-a-Mat.

Likewise!! Gas-O-Mat in Denver = $0.25/ gal when I first drove - 1964!! Course a new VW bug cost $1200 !!!

 

[BartsPlace]

Fun info, but we're clearly off-topic at this point.