With gas prices rising and national energy discussions prevalent, the Economic Roundtable of Jacksonville heard from John Felmy, American Petroleum Institute chief economist, during its meeting Tuesday at Jacksonville University. Felmy (center) discussed with organization members Charles Armstrong (left) and Marvin Edwards and more than 20 others the reasons for rising gas prices and a need for the U.S. to become more energy independent. Technological advances have made other sources of energy extraction more reliable, he said.