Easley: Gas shortage easing

Raleigh, N.C. — Gov. Mike Easley said Thursday that shortages of gasoline that have plagued the state in the past two weeks are coming to an end.

The pipelines that supply gas to the Southeast have been running at capacity since Tuesday, meaning full capacity will return to North Carolina next week, Easley said. Damage to refineries along the Texas Gulf Coast from Hurricane Ike three weeks ago meant lower amounts of gas have been flowing through the pipelines since then.

“As a result of the pipeline filling up, the companies are now letting more gas go from their terminals to the gas stations," Easley said in a statement.

State officials continue sending 50 to 100 fuel tankers to the Charlotte area and western North Carolina, which have seen the most severe shortages, to keep gas stations supplied.

“We will keep working hard every day to get additional gas to Charlotte. The oil companies are now doing everything they can, and I am pleased that they have agreed to send in the additional tanker trucks every day,” he said.