For those still in shock over North Olympic Peninsula gasoline prices hovering around $2 a gallon, it appears they will have the coming year to get used to it.
Gasoline is expected to remain well below $3 a gallon across much of the U.S. throughout the year, according to GasBuddy, an online resource which released its 2015 Fuel Price Outlook.
The report forecasts the average price to be $2.64 a gallon for regular unleaded in 2015, with the average national price hitting $3 only once in the next 12 months, in May.
If the average is indeed $2.64 in 2015, U.S. motorists will save $97 billion in fuel costs compared with 2014, according to the report.
Washington state will continue to have prices higher than the national average because of limited refining capacity along the West Coast, said Allison Mac, a petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.
She said she expects average gas prices to remain below $3 a gallon in this region throughout much of the year as crude oil prices remain low due to overproduction.
The average American household is expected to save $550 in gasoline expenditures in 2015 compared with 2014, according to a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Lower fuel prices and more fuel-efficient vehicles are behind the savings.
The EIA forecasts that gas costs for an average family should total $1,962 this year, which would be the first time in more than a decade that annual household fuel expenditures have dropped below $2,000.
Workshop slated
PORT ANGELES — The state Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises, the lead agency in certifying minority and women-owned businesses so those businesses can obtain state contracts and procurement opportunities, will conduct a workshop Jan. 21.
The workshop will run from 10 a.m. to noon in the Port Angeles City Council chambers, 321 E. Fifth St.
Purpose of the workshop is to inform participants about the various certifications available in seeking government contracting.
This workshop is free and open to the public for any business or private individual thinking of starting a business,
Gov. Jay Inslee recently proclaimed Jan. 20-23 as Minority and Women-Owned Business Week.
For more information, visit www.omwbe.wa.gov/certification.
Free legal clinic
CHIMACUM — Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers will present the third Jefferson County Free Legal Clinic event at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24.
The free drop-in legal advice clinic is open to members of the public.
It allows for local people to address their legal issues in one-on-one consultations with volunteer lawyers, the pro bono lawyers group said.
Attorney volunteers will be available to answer legal questions, direct people to local services and explain the legal process.
For more information, phone Executive Director Shauna Rogers at 360-504-2422 or email probonolawyers@gmail.com.
KONP talk guests
PORT ANGELES — Here is this week’s schedule for the 1:05 p.m. to 2 p.m. local talk show segment on KONP radio, at 1450 AM, 101.7 FM and www.konp.com on the Internet outside the Port Angeles area.
Station General Manager Todd Ortloff hosts the Monday through Thursday segments.
This week’s scheduled lineup:
â– Monday: Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict.
â– Tuesday: Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce quarterly report with Executive Director Russ Veneema and chamber President Jim Moran.
â– Wednesday: In the first segment, Bill Perkins, founder and president of the Million Mighty Men and speaker at the Olympic Peninsula Men’s Fellowship.
In the second segment, members from the band the Flying Strings (formerly the Fiddle Kids) will be interviewed about the upcoming Snowgrass event and will perform in the studio.
â– Thursday: Clallam County commissioners.
