AJC.com > Talk of the town > Archives > 2008 > October > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFriday: The Great Atlanta Gas Hunt…seriously, still going.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Good morning, hunters. I heard from plenty of you yesterday that the shortage was supposedly easing, but you still weren’t finding any gas. As we’ve said: it’s going to be a week or two before you’ll find it everywhere, all the time, like usual.
Weekend travel advice from AAA: stick to your usual fueling habits, and don’t top-off, unless (!) you’re going on a weekend trip in the Southeast and out of the metro area. Then, you ought to fill up when your tank is about half-full.
Below, more news. Resources, maps, Twitter and ideas are at the very bottom.
12:53 p.m. Glass-half-full approach to deliveries during a gas shortage. I hope we’re past this now, but delivery drivers were some of the first to notice a fuel shortage, and some of the hardest hit. Maybe the answer was delivering to the gas lines.
11:09 a.m. Perdue asked, but that’s not why the Department of Energy gave. From Jim Galloway’s blog: “DOE approved an additional release of up to 900,000 barrels of crude oil from the SPR to two refiners who submitted requests. This was a concurrent request made by the individual refiners that echoed what the Governor was asking for. The 900,000 barrel SPR release was not in direct response to the Governor’s request.”
10:11 a.m. So you want to bike. Now what? Bike and alternative transportation groups in town say they’re getting more calls and questions about their services, but a lot of their callers start with “Where can I get a bike?” There are some answers.
9:34 a.m. If you can’t find premium, what should you do? AJC reporter Stacy Shelton asked experts. Their response: Go ahead and fill it up with regular. It’s not optimum —- your car probably won’t perform as well —- but it also won’t ruin it. And technology has improved enough that shouldn’t be knocking. Here’s more info from the Federal Trade Commission on gasoline grades.
8:11 a.m. Time to say it’s over?
Some of the overnight Tweets tracking gas in Atlanta say the crisis is over and it’s time to back off. There seem to be fewer updates overall. What do you think? Is it over?
7:45 a.m. Volunteers struggle to stay on the road. From a story by AJC reporters Phil Kloer and Rachel Pomerance: “Doris Turner had five more meals to deliver when she heard the dreaded ding-ding-ding: the chiming signal from her 1997 Buick Park Avenue that she was perilously low on gas. She knew she had maybe 20 miles’ worth left in the tank, not enough to deliver meals to the five remaining senior citizens who were counting on her. She started looking for a station with gas…She headed north. But she never made it.” Her gas tank was empty.
7:33 a.m. Should government be accounting for gas it uses during a shortage? WSB reported that Fulton County vehicles were used to transport workers to off-site festivities, and whoever called the TV station was not happy about it. What do you think - is it a bad move, or not something worth caring about?
Resources
Gas shortage Q&A for all the basics.
Atlanta’s gas Twitter for real-time updates from drivers.
Atlanta area gas prices provided by GasBuddy.com.
Fueling tips from the AJC Smart Spending blog.
Shortage talk, public transportation information and transit planners from the AJC’s Your Money.
Rookies Guide to Riding MARTA, a guide from AJC writers and readers.
105 tips to use less gas from EcoModder.
Scenes from a shortage, a photo gallery of gas hunters.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: gasprices
Comments
By cruz
October 3, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
There is not any gas were I live, there is one about 1 mile away but at 4.39 for regular dammit, what is going on, I have a v8 chevy runs beautiful but she love to swallow…………….gas………..can I get a gas credit……………..hey by the way gas is a bill now, are we going to get any tax credit for it since we are paying these ridiculous prices.
By JustMe
October 3, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
All you panic-stricken drama queens and kings are the freaks who have created this pseudo gas crisis of your own accord. Both I and my spouse drive huge gas sucking SUVs. We have not altered our driving habits through all of this, nor have we had to search for gas.
If the hordes of lunatics would cease this foolishness of stopping at any station that has gas anytime their gauge drops off of the F mark, there would be enough to go around for everybody. With no lines.
Grow up.
By Englebert
October 3, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
The following is from Colonial Pipeline, believe it… or not!Colonial Back at Pre-Hurricane Flow-Rates
September 29, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLONIAL PIPELINE RETURNS TO PRE-HURRICANE DELIVERY RATES
To Maintain Flow, Will Need Continued Access to Supplies from Gulf Coast Refineries
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (Sept. 29, 2008) – Colonial Pipeline today achieved the same flow-rates for gasoline deliveries as the pipeline managed before Hurricanes Gustav and Ike hit the Gulf Coast refining region earlier this month.
After each of the hurricanes, Colonial’s pipeline quickly returned to full capability. However, supply shortages nonetheless occurred as a result of damage and shutdowns suffered by Louisiana and Texas oil refineries impacted by the hurricanes.
The refineries’ reduced output has resulted in market shortages and gas lines in many markets served by pipeline systems in the Southeast. Colonial is making every effort to support its shippers as they try to restore market stability.
The Colonial Pipeline system begins in Houston and crosses the South and East before terminating at the New York harbor. Colonial is a common carrier, meaning it does not own the fuels it transports but delivers them at the direction of its customers.
Deliveries within specific, local markets are determined by the terminal operators Colonial serves.
By Michele
October 3, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
Dear JustMe, Not everyone is topping off - many are waiting until almost empty and still having a problem finding gas when needed. I suppose if people with gas hogs would curtail their activities a little, others could find gas when they need it most.
By Mr T
October 3, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
You’re blog is stupid. All it accomplishes is putting a sensational headline on the front page, which people see and panic about. Good luck on the “gas hunt”.
By JustMe
October 3, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
Michele, you are a twit! What, my life should be altered for the sake of every liberal whine-bag on the planet because…..oh, wait! Let me guess….it’s not FA-A-A-I-I-RRR for me to have gas when other people don’t? What a socialist epitaph!
Try again - I guess your mommy and daddy never told you….life isn’t fair. Get over yourself!
I guess next you’ll be asking da gov’ment to subsidize your gas!
By Lulu
October 4, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
JustMe- your pen same says it ALL There is a huge line between irresponsible GREED and reasonable NEED and you lept across it. When YOU GET OVER IT! Try to calmy wonder if there is any similarity between your attitude and that of the parasites on Wall St.