MEDFORD, Ore. -- Drivers in southern Oregon are feeling the pain at the pump but understanding why the Rogue Valley's prices are higher can be summed up in one word: California.
AAA Auto Club says its because the gas in Southern Oregon is shipped from Northern California, where factories have already made the switch from winter to summer blend.
California was one of the first states to make the switch.
Becky Lonctot with AAA Auto Club, says its an environment-friendly change that means a higher price for consumers.
"California has already switched over to the summer blend so that means they have to have a cleaner burning fuel for the summer," said Lonctot said.
The rest of the state, like Portland, gets its gas from from Washington state. Its gas hasn't made the switch from winter to summer blend, so prices in northern Oregon tend to be lower.
Even when the rest of the state does make the switch, environmental regulations are stricter in California. Lonctot says that could keep prices in the Rogue Valley higher than the rest of the state.
"The other thing affecting our price is that we are close to California, so our prices are higher and we are probably going to be more competitive with them then people the rest of the state," said Lonctot.
AAA Auto Club predicts the cost will peak by Memorial Day and then stay relatively stable through the rest of summer.
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