Gas prices down; alternative fuels up

Driving to work today, it was abundantly clear that gas prices were going down. They were at $2.69 a gallon a few days ago and now they are at $2.55 or so. My question is what happened? Did some major development occur and I didn’t hear about it?
Oil companies last year said Hurricane Katrina and the devastation she wrought was the cause for the upward spike of gas prices, but I am still confused why they continued to hover around $3 a gallon for a year.
But now gas prices are going down. Why? This is not a complaint, mind you. Just curious as to why now is the time to reduce prices when there doesn’t seem to be a real cause.
I sometimes get the feeling we are the marionette and the oil companies are controlling all the (purse) strings.
This country really has to stay on task and find quality alternative fuels that can power vehicles that will also keep the environment clean and safe.
I wrote back in April about some alternatives some organizations or people are working on.
Coal could become a source for hydrogen in the near term that could power a fuel cell-based vehicle. Experiments continue in an effort to optimize the combustion of coal to produce the most energy and the least possible pollution.
Or look down on the farm as more companies are looking at biodiesel.
One major petroleum refiner, Motiva Enterprises LLC, is allowing the blending of the soy-based alternative with traditional motor fuel at its Dallas terminal.
Biodiesel is a biodegradable and nontoxic soybean derivative that a refiner can blend at any level with petroleum diesel.
In addition, corn fields could soon become a huge profit center as ethanol production is starting to increase.
While all of these alternatives may not be the answer right now, they are a beginning. We just need to stay on top of it and not let any distractions get in the way.
Talk to me.