Major gas shortages broke out in some Southeastern states Wednesday as the Colonial Pipeline shutdown continued into its fifth day, sparking a rush on gas as thousands of service stations reported running out of fuel.
The run-up is enough to squeeze prices at the national level. Average gas prices broke above $3 a gallon Wednesday morning for the first time since 2014. The national average retail price is now $3.008, according to data from AAA auto group.
Panic at the pump
Images circulated on social media of people hoarding gas and filling up all manner of unsuitable containers, prompting the U.S. Product Safety Commission to warn customers: Do not fill plastic bags with gasoline. Instead, drivers should only use approved containers.
"Just because you have something with a lid doesn’t mean you need to fill it with fuel,” Jeff Lenard, vice president of strategic industry initiatives at NACS, the leading trade group for convenience and fuel retailing, told CNN.
“Demand has been two to four times normal in many markets and the system, even when it isn’t stressed, can’t support that,” Lenard said of the rush to the pump.
Tensions are running high at gas stations as consumers race to fill up. Two people in Knightdale, North Carolina, were charged with assault Tuesday, after a man and a women spat at each other and caused a disturbance while fighting over spots in the gas station line.
Depleted inventory
As of Wednesday afternoon, 65 percent of gas stations in all of North Carolina were out of gas, according to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, an app that tracks fuel. Over 40 percent of stations are out in Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia. And over 10 percent of stations are dry in Florida, Maryland, and Tennessee.
Prices are even higher in specific locales. Outages neared 80 percent in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and topped 70 percent in Pensacola, Florida and Charlotte, North Carolina, according to GasBuddy.
Earlier this week, energy experts said the worst response from the public would be to hoard gasoline, which could squeeze supply even more in the short term and distort consumption behavior in a way that could cause unintended consequences.
"If panic buying kicks in, prices could rise further well over the $3 level, but until the pipeline operator can say the line is up and running, the backlog will build and concern will remain," John Hall, chairman of the London-based Alfa Energy Group, warned on Monday.
How we got here
The Colonial Pipeline, the country’s largest artery for transporting fuel, shut down all its operations Friday after hackers broke in to some of its networks. The federal government issued a rare emergency declaration on Sunday after the cyberattack.
The successful hack exposed gaping holes in U.S. cyber defenses, experts say. Colonial brought in a top breach response company, Mandiant, to assess the damage, repair and shore up its networks. Law enforcement is waiting for the results of their forensic investigation to move forward in their response.
"Right now we are waiting for additional technical information on exactly what happened at Colonial so that we can use that information to potentially protect other potential victims down the road," Acting FBI Director Brandon Wales testified at a Senate Homeland Security Committee Tuesday.
How it's being solved
Colonial said in its latest public release that it had opened additional lateral lines under manual control to help deliver oil already in the system while the main line remains shut.
The company has worked with shipping companies to move fuel onto tankers to deliver 41 million gallons throughout its system, including hard-hit areas in Georgia, Maryland, and North Carolina. Colonial has also taken delivery of 2 million barrels from refineries ready to enter the pipeline when the lines start up again.
The company says it has "the goal of substantially restoring operational service by the end of the week."
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also monitoring the situation, according to a status update obtained by NBC News.
What to do
The Department of Energy advises drivers during temporary fuel shortages to be patient and only purchase what they need for their short-term needs.
Following the speed limit, driving smoothly, and avoiding hard acceleration and braking will improve fuel economy, according to testing by Consumer Reports, the nonprofit research, testing and advocacy organization.
Drivers should also check that their tire pressure meets manufacturer recommended PSI, remove roof racks not in use, and minimize A/C use to increase mileage, the organization said.
“Anticipate the road ahead. If you’ll be stopping at an upcoming light or stop sign, let off the gas early and coast up to it if it’s safe to do so,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal, in an email.
Gas tracking apps, like GasBuddy and Waze, can show which gas stations nearby have supply so motorists can plan before driving around looking for gas. Stations away from highways and city centers will tend to have better prices, as will warehouse centers.
“There is not data showing that the gasoline shortage will worsen due to supply-side issues,” said Kelly Goldsmith, associate professor of marketing at Vanderbilt University, in an email. “And demand-side issues are under our control – we do not have to hoard gasoline.”
What's next
Colonial Pipeline is expected to announce its decision about restarting its lines by the end of day Wednesday.
President Joe Biden's administration is “doing everything that we can to reduce the impact that some Americans could see at local gas stations in some areas until the pipeline is brought back online,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Wednesday at a White House press briefing.
Buttigieg, along with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will brief the House and Senate on Wednesday night on the administration’s response to the situation, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at the briefing.
The Department of Transportation also said Tuesday the agency is considering temporarily waiving the Jones Act in order to help relieve supply pressures. Signed in 1920, the law requires vessels ferrying goods between two U.S. points be all-American: built, crewed and flagged. Temporarily lifting it would allow foreign tankers to carry U.S. fuel and deliver it into U.S. ports.
"now" - Google News
May 13, 2021 at 01:42AM
https://ift.tt/3hj0rEP
Some Southeastern gas stations are dry. Now what? - NBC News
"now" - Google News
https://ift.tt/35sfxPY
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Some Southeastern gas stations are dry. Now what? - NBC News"
Post a Comment