Lower gas prices would take several steps

WASHINGTON, June 13 (UPI) -- Trimming the price of U.S. gasoline would take a series of steps, some making only minor contributions to lowering the price, various energy experts said.

Pumping more oil would help on the supply side, but have limited impact on prices and come at an environmental price, USA Today reported Friday.

For example, drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would cut prices by 1 cent to 3.5 cents per gallon and the savings wouldn't be realized until 2027, the newspaper reported.

On the demand side, slowing to increase mileage is one solution. So is doubling ethanol mandates, which would lower gas consumption and double the 10-cents-per-gallon savings consumers realize through ethanol, experts said.

Building new refineries could help trim the 21-cents-per-gallon cost of processing oil, the USA Today said.

A popular solution is to attack the producer: Oil companies or exporting nations, the newspaper said. But this would have minimal impact on prices, USA Today reported.