Gas shortage continues in state

RALEIGH, N.C. — Two weeks after Hurricane Ike disrupted oil production, a gasoline shortage continues in parts of North Carolina.

Asheville city officials have closed offices, the civic center and all parks and recreation centers because of the shortage.

Some Charlotte stations are rationing gas. There have been fights as drivers accuse each other of breaking in line.

Carol Gifford with AAA says stations are waiting for deliveries, but are unsure how much gasoline they will get. Gifford says it's important for people not to buy gas unless they need it.

In a statement, Gov. Mike Easley said a terminal in Spartanburg, S.C., received a major shipment of fuel on Thursday. A large amount of that fuel was expected to head to hard-hit areas of western North Carolina.

A larger shipment was expected to arrive in Charlotte on Friday afternoon. Easley said Colonel Pipeline officials said the gas supply in terminals serving Charlotte and western North Carolina should be close to normal when that shipment is complete.

Additional shipments destined for the Triad and Triangle area and eastern North Carolina were also expected to arrive Thursday or Friday.

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I agree, high prices due to a true supply shortage is better than no gas at all. I didn't change a thing, I bought gas when I was near empty and had no trouble hear in Raleigh or in Wilmington.

ezLikeSundayMorning
September 26, 2008 1:04 p.m.

MrX wrote: === From the article: "Gifford says it's important for people not to buy gas unless they need it."

From GIGATT: "live in South Charlotte now and can tell you that most of the gas stations are out of gas. Most of them have not raised their prices and have responded fairly to this crisis."

This shows the folly of price gouging laws. Had gas stations raised prices high enough, we consumers would have eventually found ways to use less even to the point of major inconvenience which would have left gas at the stations for those who really need it to the point that they are willing to pay more. ===

That is spot-on. A law that prevents prices from rising to reflect a temporary supply shock guarantees a shortage: http://www.johnlocke.org/press_releases/20080915413.html

jsanders
September 26, 2008 12:09 p.m.

hi_i_am_wade were you talking about the distant future benefit from offshore drilling when you said, "...but that day is still many many years off. But it is coming." ?

Yes, we have some high prices now, but I remember a much worse time in the 70's. So, what have we done to change our course in the last 30 years?! When WILL be a "good" time to change our course? THAT is my point.

Will people be having this same, "drill" and "refine", conversation in yet another 30 years?

The time is now for us to put everything we can into getting our energy off of fossil fuels. It's even a homeland security issue. And, finite resources are not infinitely available...whatcha gonna do when the supply goes down even more?

hereandnow99
September 26, 2008 11:57 a.m.

----.....it's really pretty simple - BUILD MORE REFINERIES----

Thats why i believe this "shortage" and these extreme prices are man-made. Its just like the Iraq war.......this government will create situations in order to herd the people in supporting their agenda. In this case more refineries and wars all over the planet.