Energy expert: WA gas prices lagging national drops due to high taxes, other factors

(The Center Square) – While motorists in much of the rest of the nation are seeing gas prices below $3 a gallon, drivers in Washington state continue to deal with fuel costs averaging closer to $4 a gallon, thanks to specific state-level policies and other factors that keep prices elevated.

According to AAA, on Monday, the national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in the U.S. is just over $2.81 a gallon. The average price at the pump in Washington is just under $3.84.

Only two states currently have higher gasoline prices than Washington: Hawaii, at nearly $4.41, and California, at almost $4.27, according to AAA.

The Center Square spoke with Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasB...