We have no more gas!

Here in Western North Carolina, for reasons that make very little sense, many of the filling stations have run out of gas. I first heard of it when one of my more responsible students e-mailed that she would not be able to make it to class because she could find no gas for her car. She was down in the Hickory area. Then today at work people made the same comment, including Maire. No gas.

I couldn't figure it out but when I drove from Boone to Wilkesboro this evening I looked at the gas pumps and their handles were all wrapped in plastic. No gas.

Carmen had the official explanation straight from the governor. Here it is:

Gov. Mike Easley announced Wednesday (yesterday) evening that substantial additional gasoline supplies have been released to North Carolina.

“The major oil companies have agreed to make additional gas supplies available to hard hits areas of our state, particularly western North Carolina,” said Easley. “We are getting tankers from Wilmington, Tennessee and South Carolina terminals to bring hundreds of thousands of gallons of gas to those most in need.”

The governor said the additional gallons of gas will be available over the next two days

“I am grateful to the oil companies for trying to get gas to our people. They do not have to make these changes in their delivery routine and I have no power to make them. They have agreed to do this voluntarily,” Easley said.

“I have a lot of staff working very hard on this and am asking people to be reasonable and cooperative with each other. Conserve for a few more days and we will be fine. We are going to continue to work hard to get every possible gallon of gasoline to the locations where it is needed.

The gas shortage that was caused by refinery shutdowns during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike has been worse in rural areas of North Carolina because those areas tend to have more independently-owned gas stations. The independent stations typically do not have long term contracts for gasoline delivery, while stations that carry major brand names do have contracts. The independents run out of gas first, consequently it is important that the brand companies have come through with extra fuel for the state.

If I understand this right, it is a gas shortage caused by the unwillingness of gas companies to ship gas to independent dealers who didn't have long term contracts. But I should be grateful to them for shipping extra gas to their own company owned stations so they can sell all they want at $3.99 a gallon?

Or did I miss something?

but at least our gov is on the case. I feel so much better.

UPDATE: The Washington Post has been investigating. It's a slightly different case apparently than the governor's explanation. Oh well.

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