Charlotte - Gas shortages possible this weekend

[yodermon]

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/12525364.htm
(reg. required, use bugmenot.com)

Supplies near empty with no replacements in sight

Charlotte's gasoline supplies are dwindling, and gas station owners and pipeline operators tell the Observer that shortages could accelerate this weekend.

The two pipelines that supply a vast majority of the region's fuel have been shut down since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf coast Monday. Now, distributors say supplies are near empty with no replacements in sight.

Motorists will likely see stations run out of regular gas or in some cases all grades.

Pipeline operators hope to restart partial deliveries by the weekend though gas could take a week or two to arrive in Charlotte.

I saw $4.00 a gallon this eve, and lines out into the streets. Reports of fistfights at the pumps.

Thank you *, awol again.

[dweller]

1. what say, Gov. Easley ...

http://www.wral.com/news/4921679/detail.html

Gov. Mike Easley Statement On N.C. Gasoline Supply

Statement Given Wednesday By Gov. Easley Concerning Gasoline Supply In North Carolina

The two major pipelines that furnish gasoline to many states, including North Carolina, have been affected by
Hurricane Katrina and are currently without electricity. They service North Carolina and 8-10 other states.

90 percent of our gas comes from these pipelines and right now they are not operational.

Suppliers generally have a week or so of supply. They have been shut down since the hurricane.

The pipelines need electric supply and the refineries that produce gasoline need to make urgent repairs also are
without electricity.

The refineries that produce gasoline need to make urgent repairs.

Consequently, we do not know the extent of the problem, but we do know that there will be a signifcant loss of
gasoline in the Southeast, at least in the short term, until the electricity is restored.

This is not only a state problem, this is also a regional and a national problem. We are hoping that the Department of
Energy will take some action as soon as possible. I have tried to get direction from DOE, but they have not yet
responded.

In the meantime, I am asking all North Carolinians to conserve gas. Some stations are already out.Wait for more
information before making Labor Day travel plans.

more at link
dp

[BewilderedCitizen]

2. I filled up at lunch for $2.79/gal. This evening it was $2.99/gal

and there were lines out in the streets blocking traffic (South Charlotte). On the news they said they couldn't raise the price over $2.99 until they get a computer upgrade. I'm guessing they'll get the upgrade in record time.

Many stations are out of gas now and don't know when they'll get more. I'm glad I didn't have any travel plans for this weekend. This is going to get worse before it gets better. Hmm, I wish I had a dollar for every time I've thought that since * took office.

[Horse with no Name]

21. I think emergency legislation was passed

allowing them to sell gas by the 1/2 gallon so that it wouldn't inconvenience "mom and pop" stations.

[barb162]

3. People can quit the discretionary driving this weekend and do

other things to save gas, like combining necessary trips. One of these days Americans are going to have to come to grips with the fact we are not entitled to cheap gas and to waste it on guzzlers. This is a wakeup call.

[Shadder]

6. Sorry

We had that wake up call back in the 70's. We sure learned a great deal from that, huh?

[Eurobabe]

8. precisely what I said in another thread

these dumb nearsighted shitheads in Washington has 35 years to see this coming.

Now their worst nightmare is upon them, and they haven't a clue as to how to figure it out.

[barb162]

20. this time the wakeup call is different

peak oil is just about here

with Katrina just interrupting the distribution for a few to several months

[PennyK]

4. Shortages here already

I'm on Long Island, New York, and my husband decided to fill up my car tonight, before prices go out of sight. He had to go to three stations before he found one that had regular.

[BR_Parkway]

5. Most of the Boone stations had bags on the Regular and midgrade

this morning. All 10 places that I went past.

[QuettaKid]

7. NASCAR anyone...?

round and round they go....ZOOM ZOOM!!!! stupidest. "sport". ever.

[doxieone]

9. Gas shortage possible (Charlotte,NC) (No immediate replacement??)

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/12525364.htm

Gas shortages possible this weekend

Supplies near empty with no replacements in sight

ANDREW SHAIN AND RICH RUBIN

The Charlotte Observer



Get carpool info at Share the Ride NC
Charlotte's gasoline supplies are dwindling, and gas station owners and pipeline operators tell the Observer that shortages could accelerate this weekend.

The two pipelines that supply a vast majority of the region's fuel have been shut down since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf coast Monday. Now, distributors say supplies are near empty with no replacements in sight.

Motorists will likely see stations run out of regular gas or in some cases all grades

[Why Syzygy]

10. That sounds like bringing Ira*q home to roost

Doesn't George W. Bush say he's fighting a losing battle in Ira*q so we don't have to fight it in our streets and hometowns?

As usual! A HUGE FUCK UP! Get that clown down.

edit: btw . I hope Rove loses all his hair.

[dad]

11. You should have seen the lines last night.

I filled up two days ago, so I was allright. But coming home from work, the gas station charging $2.85 had a line out into the street, causing a traffic jam. A little up the block the BP station was charging $3.29, there were no cars there. It will be interesting to see what the cost is this morning.

[doxieone]

12. I did.

I drove down Providence to meet friends at a restaurant off of Elizabeth Avenue. The stations that had no lines were the stations that had no gas. Police were out. My son who works with the mayor called my husband to tell him gas stations were closing at 10:00 p.m.

[TalkingDog]

13. Up in Statesville

I was out til after 11:30 last night. 2 service stations near downtown, a couple of blocks from each other, had a constant wait for pumps. This is about 20 pumps altogether.

I work part time in Winston-Salem. I think I'm going to have to suspend trips there for the short term.

BushCo Jackasses....

[Jack from Charlotte]

14. In S. Charlotte (Carmel road and HWY. 51 area),,...

I filled up Monday @ $2.51. Wife filled up Tuesday. Yesterday The Shell on Carmel where I went had a 22 car long line in the road and was selling at $3.05. Exxon on 51 was out. Station near Lowes on Johnston road was mobbed at $2.99.

A friend, who was empty and having just returned from London Saturday.... (He works for OSS in US Treasury Dept.).... went looking on South Blvd. found only high test at Sharon Rd. West and South for $3.20. He'd planned on going to Florida for the weekend as his mother is sick but fears getting stuck there without gas.

The key is what happens now. Has everyone filled up and won't need gas for a week while supplies replenish? Or will everyone hoard and top off anytime they see a station with supplies.

[RedRocco]

15. CNN

just said "non-essential travel suspended in NC" now WTF does that mean? can they pull you over, check where you are going, and if they decide its not essential, detain you?

[kick-ass-bob]

17. that means for state employees using state vehicles.

not the general public.

[alfredo]

16. All Krogers in Lexington ran out of gas yesterday

by 11 AM.



A shipment just came in this morning, so there is gas at the Krogers near me.

[macllyr]

18. Gulf oil production could be off for YEARS

Gulf oil production could take years to go back to normal...

<snip>
There are MANY production platforms missing (as in not visible from the air). This means they have been totally lost. I am talking about 10's of platforms, not single digit numbers. Each platform can have from 4 to 100+ wells on it. Most larger ones have 20-30 wells in this area, with numerous caisson wells. They are on their sides, on the bottom of the gulf - they will likely be left as reef material, provided we can get permission.
<snip>

link :
www.theoildrum.com/story/2005/8/31/83553/8973

[Javaman]

19. As Dylan said, "the times, they are a changin'..."

Folks, get pissed now, but this is life from here on out. Get used to it.

We have the usual piece of shit* in the WH, that eats cake and plays a guitar while people die of thirst in NO. We have a bloody war in Iraq for no apparent reason. He* has completely forgotten about OBL. Our country is now in such deep debt because of this asshole* that it's likely to take a few generations to maybe break even again. He* spews bullshit, doesn't give a damn about you or I. Unless we do something now, any hope of actual "normalcy" is long gone. But the hope of that happening with our do nothing Dems in congress is all but a pipe dream. Unless those stupid fucks get a clue and start holding morons* feet to the fire, we are in for a long cold winter ahead.

This will indeed be our winter of discontent.