Gas prices in Michigan drop 9 cents a gallon, in time for Thanksgiving

• By community, the most expensive average gas prices were in Ann Arbor, $3.11 a gallon; metro Detroit, $3.05, and Lansing.
• Much longer term, however, a new report released this week make some predictions about the global demand for fossil fuels.

Michigan gasoline prices, after edging up last week, went down again.

“Motorists across Michigan are seeing lower prices at the pump,” said Adrienne Woodland, a AAA spokeswoman. “If demand continues to fall, alongside low crude oil prices, gas prices may drop further.”

By community, the most expensive average gas prices were in Ann Arbor, $3.11 a gallon; metro Detroit, $3.05; and Lansing, $3.03, according to AAA; the least expensive, in Traverse City, $2.81; Marquette, $2.90; and Flint, $2.95.

At the same time, however, scientists, activists and other countries are trying to curb climate change.

A new report released last week made some predictions about the global demand for fossil fuels, which — depending on your perspective — may be seen as a good or bad thing for the future.

And world leaders continue to meet in Brazil on climate change, with a notable absence: the United States. America is the world’s biggest oil producer and exporter of natural gas.

As a result, China has stepped into the limelight at the U.N. annual international climate summit, also known as COP30, as a leader in the fight against global warming, Reuters reported.

President Donald Trump has called climate change a hoax.

But Jennifer Haverkamp, a University of Michigan professor, has suggested the conference could benefit from the Trump administration’s absence, considering, she said, it has “worked to undermine” a climate agreement in the past.

“The U.N. has a much better shot at advancing its climate agenda without saboteurs at the table,” she said. “As always, financing climate action—by whom, by when and how much—is a central issue for this COP.”

China is a leader in greenhouse gas emissions, but the Reuter’s report suggested its dominance in renewable energy and electric vehicles is also bolstering its position in what it called “climate diplomacy.”

As for the World Energy Outlook report, it backed away from its view that global demand for fossil fuels may peak soon and start to decline by the 2030s because of shifts in energy policies.

It also hinted that there might be greater demand for oil and gas through 2050, but did not provide a definitive answer.

It matters because emissions, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels, are a significant driver of climate change, as they trap heat in the atmosphere, causing the planet to warm.

And a warming planet, scientists have said, could be, at some point, irreversible and catastrophic; and some argue, is a challenge to solve without widespread international agreement.

Those seeking to curbing reliance on gasoline may wince at the findings. Those who dismiss climate science or work in industries connected to fossil fuels may see it as reason to rejoice.

Either way, Michigan motorists on Sunday were paying an average of $45 for a full 15-gallon tank of gasoline; a discount of about $12 from 2024’s highest price last July, while the national average also increased.

And nationally, with oil prices mostly stable near the $60 per barrel level, we’ve seen the national average move very little over the last few weeks, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

“Roughly half of all states saw prices rise in the last week, while the other half saw prices fall,” De Haan said. “The West Coast should soon see notable price relief as wholesale prices drop amidst seasonally declining demand.”

De Haan below gas prices dipping below $3 a gallon by Christmas.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com