I recently read an article based on an interview with T. Boone Pickings, Texas billionaire and oil tycoon, his assessment is simple and makes more sense than any other explanation I have heard. The price of oil is based on supply and demand, as more demand is placed on available assets, the price goes up.
The increase is largely credited to the development of the automobile industry in India and China. Neither country had a great demand for fuel until fairly recent, as their economy grows, so does their need for oil. According to Pickings, the demand for oil exceeds the available oil. Even with increased exploration, and the development of new fields the price of oil will continue to skyrocket. New fields, and refineries can not meet the anticipated requirements for the future. According to Pickings, $7. a gal gas can be expected within the next two years, from there, who knows?
Bottom line, there is no fix for the increased price of fuel. This will result in an increase in price of almost everything we touch, food, produce, clothing, materials, and supplies.
Short of finding an abundant alternate source of fuel it is something we will just have to live with.