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Alabama Pipeline Shutdown Could Spike Nashville Gas Prices
Posted On Sep 18 2016
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Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia as well as North and SC will feel the spike in prices the most.
Haslam has waived federal hours of service requirements for fuel transporters to prevent any disruptions to the state’s fuel supply.
“This is a precautionary measure as we are not now seeing any widespread unavailability of petroleum in Tennessee”, Haslam said.
The Tennessee Fuel and Convenience Store Association, along with the Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association, said tankers were transporting fuel as quickly and safely as possible to Middle Tennessee. Close to 250,000 gallons spilled from the leak and prompted officials to issue a state of emergency in Shelby County, Ala.
“We were out, so we said, let’s gas up”, he said.
Colonial Pipeline runs from Houston to New Jersey.
Tennessee Emergency Management Director Patrick Sheehan tried to reassure drivers.
“I just came in to town so this is shocking to me”, said Gina Dorman, as she filled up her almost empty tank.
“Tennessee has other sources for fuel in addition to the Colonial Pipeline”, said Emily LeRoy, executive director of TFCA, in a news release.
LeRoy said drivers could see “limited, temporary outages” at gas stations in the area.
The pipeline operator said that based on its current projections, parts of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and SC will be the first markets to suffer potential supply disruptions, according to a CNN.com report.
The Governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam has declared a state of emergency that will allow drivers to work longer hours to ensure petroleum is available at convenience stores, fuel retailers and fuel wholesalers in Tennessee.
Motorists could pay even more for gasoline in coming days, although experts say that any spike in service-station prices should only be temporary.
The American Automobile Association reported that gas prices in Tennessee had increased to an average of $2.06 per gallon as of Saturday morning, compared to $2.01 per gallon on Friday.
