Government smog rules help cause gas shortages in Atlanta

From CNN 2008-10-11

The gas supply has taken a major hit as refineries in the Houston area try to get back up to full capacity in the wake of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, state and industry officials say. The Colonial Pipeline, which typically delivers 100 million gallons of gasoline, aviation fuel and other petroleum products throughout the southeastern United States, is not running at full capacity.

"Since the hurricanes both hit, we have been tapping the reserves of the stockpiles of the fuels that were made before the hurricanes hit, and we've been delivering those," said Steve Baker, a spokesman for the pipeline.

"That's caused us to operate at a reduced rate, less than we're capable of. So that's been part of the problem that we've faced, and we're trying to overcome."

Further complicating matters is that metro Atlanta has more stringent environmental requirements than other areas, meaning gas from other cities can't be brought in because it doesn't meet the city's smog requirements. The state is working with the state energy agency and the Environmental Protection Agency about getting a temporary waiver of that rule, said Bert Brantley, a spokesman for Gov. Sonny Perdue's office.

Commentary
Drivers are upset by $5 per gallon prices at some stations, and $4.29 a gallon prices at other stations, 30 cents higher than the national average. While some might lament this, keep in mind that paying $5 a gallon might be well worth the price to avoid the long lines. Stations selling for a high price should not be penalized by the government for price gouging, they are offering a choice that consumers can decide whether or not to accept.

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Government smog rules help cause gas shortages in Atlanta

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