[DantesPeak]

Pennsylvania Governor asks for RFG waiver:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'G')OVERNOR RENDELL ASKS BUSH ADMINISTRATION
FOR WAIVERS TO EASE PHILADELPHIA-AREA
GASOLINE SHORTAGE

HARRISBURG — Prompted by gasoline supply shortages in the five-county Philadelphia area (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties), Governor Edward G. Rendell today requested that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issue a temporary waiver that would allow gasoline suppliers to sell fuel that does not meet federal Clean Air Act reformulated gasoline guidelines.

“We have information indicating that a major gasoline supplier in the Philadelphia area is reporting more than 160 ‘delivery-needed’ alarms, and many more fuel outlets reporting that supplies are nearly exhausted,” Governor Rendell wrote in a letter to EPA Administrator Steven L. Johnson. “In light of the circumstances, the requested [waiver] is clearly necessary to serve the public interest.”

The gasoline shortages apparently have been caused by problems associated with terminals making the switch between “winterblend” gasoline and reformulated blends that help curb summertime ground-level ozone pollution. In addition, refiners have precipitously stopped using the octane enhancer methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether (MTBE) exacerbating fuel shortage problems since MTBE had constituted about 10 percent of gasoline.

“A short waiver will protect the public without meaningfully polluting the air. We need the federal government to act to help get us through what otherwise will be a very difficult situation,” said Governor Rendell.

Three major petroleum refineries in the Philadelphia area refine almost 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily into gasoline, diesel fuel, and home heating oil, not only for the commonwealth, but also for the entire East Coast.

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Starvid', 'I')t should be easy to check.

For example a litre of milk is 5,90 Swedish kronor here which equals $0,75 per litre. Swedish food prices are high compared to other European countries due to weak competition among food retailers.

[DantesPeak]

IEA worries about US gasoline situation, but concludes the SPR - if anything - should be expanded.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')EA fears US fuel shortagePublished: Tuesday, 25 April, 2006, 07:39 PM Doha Time

DOHA: The International Energy Agency is concerned about a looming gasoline shortage in the US, but would only order the release of strategic stocks if a major supply disruption occurs, a senior IEA official said.
US supplies are under threat as the world’s biggest energy consumer switches to a new kind of motor fuel and US Energy Secretary Sam Bodman has said consumers should expect some short-term gasoline supply disruptions this summer.

“We are worried about supply in general throughout the world and particularly of gasoline and particularly in the US,” IEA chief economist Fatih Birol said yesterday.

[ubercynicmeister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Torjus', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Starvid', '
')For example during the last couple of years oil has gone from $20 to $70. Bread, milk and meat are as cheap as ever.

[DantesPeak]

Boston area stations face closing, motorists advised "Don't worry, Be happy!".

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'S')OME BRIEFLY CLOSED: Gas stations changing to ethanol

By JULIE JETTE
The Patriot Ledger

The ‘‘closed’’ signs popping up at gas stations here and there are no cause for alarm, gasoline experts say. There is no 1970s-style gas shortage on the immediate horizon.

In the next two weeks, stations that haven’t done so already will be converting to a new type of gasoline blend that includes ethanol instead of methyl tertiary-butyl ether, better known by the acronym MTBE.

That switch has meant short-term closings at some gas stations on the East Coast. Art Kinsman, a spokesman for AAA Southern New England, says he has noticed few stations shut down locally so far.

‘‘It’s possible you may see a station here or there closed down temporarily, but it’s not due to a gas shortage,’’ Kinsman said. ‘‘There’s no reason to panic.’’