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202 comments on Gas Shortages?: This Week in Petroleum - September 24

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Starship Trooper on September 25, 2008 - 3:37pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

We are finding gas at any given station about 5 out of 7 days in central NC and some gas stations limit pumping to between 8 and 10 gallons. On any given day in some areas away from the city centers you may have to go to 2 or 3 stations before you find one that is pumping. Pumps are busy but unlike Friday two weeks ago, there have been relatively few lines.

Buses are full or near full (I ride the bus most days and have noticed that we've basically gone from 3/4ths full to full (maybe 1 or two seats left) in the past couple of weeks. Fortunately, the schedules had changed recently to increase the number of buses running.

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EHT on September 25, 2008 - 4:03pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Is there any policy giving buses priority for fuel? Of course, they are probably diesel, and I'm not clear as to whether the problem is the same for diesel fuel.

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Ben on September 25, 2008 - 4:19pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Depends on which bus sytem we're talking about, but they probably have their own fuel depot with at least a small stockpile, if for no other reason than so they don't have to have frequent deliveries.

They don't have to line up at Shell like us little people :)

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BillJames on September 25, 2008 - 11:57pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I did a study of current contingency plans for Lisa in Congressman Bartlett's office. The summary of this at roughed in at www.EconomicLifeboat.com. Basically there are plans, but they have not be practiced and there is no preparation to back the plans.

IEA Treaty requires plans. Most state plans note they will rely on price to ration fuel. That seems pretty stupid to me as we approach harvest season with very low grain inventories. It seems a better use of fuel to havest crops than to make sure police vehicles have fuel to control starving people.

The focus in Congress is on financials. When I briefed Senator Obama's staff last week on Peak Oil. They were kind to give me time and attentive. Their comment was they were aware but it could be managed. I recommended that if their are gas lines and $5.50 gas they reassess. He was surprised that there might be another gas price jump. He was a good guy, well meaning and returns phone calls.

At the end of July I visited and provided information to 70 Senate staffs. At the time opinions were split by party: Democrats: "It is speculators." Republicans: "We need to drill." At the time I provided them with a note on why to expect gas lines before and during the election.

I sent a message a week ago to expect these gas lines and to expect they will still be happening during the election. Only Senator McCain's person (Bud McFarlane) has responded with a positive commitment to work on the risks.

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Alakazaam on September 27, 2008 - 9:05am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Hello Bill - thank you for the informative post.

Interesting that Obama's group thought peak oil "could be managed". I suppose one must take one's victories where one can and at least it was encouraging to note that they made the effort to listen attentively to your message.

What I would like to know is at what degree of hurt do they propose to end voluntary austerity and implement their plan to "manage" the peak oil scenario? I also wonder what sort of plan they will endorse. So far - if I can generalize - it seems that the political plan enacted to get through this hurricane-induced shortage is: 1) BAU; 2) decrease environmental safeguards (early release of winter gas); and 3)don't let the market intervene to manage consumption (ie with price rises). I am curious to know when and how their plan might diverge from this one.

I'll admit that I am listening to your election from another country - so likely I am not hearing it all (lol). I haven't heard anything but the most vague plans to address FF scarcity. Maybe it is asking too much of electioneering politicos to expect them to come out with a plan for hard times that a lot of folks don't even believe will arrive. But tellingly, I think their messages - and therefore perhaps their plans - only involve ramping up or shifting the emphasis of current reliance on fossil fuel (drilling and clean coal) and evidence no major awakening regarding the part FF will play in future energy/chemical needs. That is what frightens me. If the plan doesn't have within it's basic framework an understanding that the use of FF will eventually come only at a price (economic/enviromental/physical) that we are unable to pay, then I believe it is flawed and at best only (very) short-term. Should I expect more? I'm not hearing it in our election either.

*sigh

Regards,

Al

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BillJames on September 28, 2008 - 3:22am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

There does not seem to be awareness of the degree of risk. Or, the risks like Al Gore are about Climate Change not Peak Oil.

But they were willing to listen. That may be a start.

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202 comments on Gas Shortages?: This Week in Petroleum - September 24

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