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Military to Deliver Fuel to Storm Region Military to Deliver Fuel to Storm Region
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON – As long lines persisted at gas stations in the New York metropolitan area, federal authorities moved Friday to restore supplies, turning to the Defense Department to send 24 million gallons of extra fuel to the region and lifting restrictions on deliveries by foreign-flagged ships. WASHINGTON — As long lines persisted at gas stations in the New York metropolitan area, federal authorities moved on Friday to restore supplies, instructing the Defense Department to send 24 million gallons of fuel to the region and lifting restrictions on deliveries by foreign-flagged ships.
With the reopening of the New York port to tankers on Thursday, and the return of a critical Northeast fuel pipeline to full capacity on Friday, the biggest outstanding problems are the lack of power at hundreds of gas stations and continued panic buying by the public, industry officials said. With the reopening of the Port of New York to tankers on Thursday, and the return of a critical Northeast fuel pipeline to full capacity on Friday, the biggest outstanding problems are the lack of power at hundreds of gas stations and continued panic buying by the public, industry officials said.
Because electricity will not be restored in parts of central New Jersey for 7 to 10 days, gas shortages may still be severe in some areas. As of Friday, according to AAA, only about 40 percent to 50 percent of the gasoline stations in New York City and New Jersey were operating, and even fewer in Long Island, most of them out of service because of power failures. Because electricity will not be restored in parts of central New Jersey for seven to 10 days, gasoline shortages may remain severe in some areas. As of Friday, according to AAA, only 40 to 50 percent of the gas stations in New York City and New Jersey were operating, and even fewer were operating on Long Island. Most of the stations were out of service because of power failures.
“We have seen some stations open as power is restored, but other stations have closed while running out of gas,” said Michael Green, an AAA spokesman. “The long lines and supply problems will go away once power is restored.”“We have seen some stations open as power is restored, but other stations have closed while running out of gas,” said Michael Green, an AAA spokesman. “The long lines and supply problems will go away once power is restored.”
The Obama administration — realizing the political peril if it is blamed for fuel shortages in the days before the election — significantly accelerated its response on Friday. The Obama administration, realizing the political peril if it were to be blamed for fuel shortages in the days before the election, significantly accelerated its response on Friday.
It authorized the Defense Department to hire hundreds of trucks that will be used to deliver 12 million gallons each of gasoline and diesel fuel to staging areas in New Jersey. The fuel, mostly from commercial suppliers, will then be distributed throughout the region in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help resupply stations. That would translate into 800,000 vehicles with 15-gallon tanks. It authorized the Defense Department to hire hundreds of trucks that will be used to deliver 12 million gallons each of gasoline and diesel fuel, mostly from commercial suppliers, to staging areas in New Jersey. The department is handling the task because its Defense Logistics Agency has contracting powers that enable it to move quickly.
The Defense Logistics Agency is handling the fuel purchases and deliveries. It has contracting capacity that it is using to carry out the mission quickly. From the staging areas, the fuel will be distributed throughout the region in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help resupply stations. Together, the gasoline and diesel are enough for 1.6 million vehicles with 15-gallon tanks.
In conjunction with that move, the Pentagon was authorized by the Department of Energy and the White House to tap the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. The federal authorities will draw down as much as 2 million gallons of diesel fuel to provide extra supplies to government emergency responders, helping them to keep electricity generators, water pumps, federal buildings, trucks and other vehicles running. The oil reserve, created by the federal government in 2000, holds 42 million gallons of ultra-low sulfur diesel at terminals in Groton, Conn., and Revere, Mass. It is the first time fuel has been released from the reserve. The Pentagon has also been authorized by the Energy Department and the White House to tap the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. It will draw as much as two million gallons of diesel fuel — part of the 12 million total — for government emergency responders, helping them to keep electricity generators, water pumps, federal buildings, trucks and other vehicles running. The oil reserve, created by the federal government in 2000, holds 42 million gallons of ultralow-sulfur diesel at terminals in Groton, Conn., and Revere, Mass. It is the first time fuel has been released from the reserve.
The moves came after the Department of Homeland Security earlier Friday temporarily lifted a rule prohibiting foreign-flagged ships from delivering fuel between United States ports, which should soon bring additional tankers to the New York area carrying refined gasoline and diesel. Earlier Friday, the Homeland Security Department temporarily lifted a rule prohibiting foreign-flagged ships from delivering fuel between United States ports, a move that should soon bring additional tankers to the New York area with refined gasoline and diesel.
And on Thursday, the Defense Department used 17 of its aircraft to move 630 tons of equipment from West Coast utility companies — including 10 bucket trucks and 20 pickup trucks — to an Air National Guard base 60 miles north of New York City. And on Thursday, the Defense Department used 17 of its aircraft to move 630 tons of equipment, including 10 bucket trucks and 20 pickup trucks, from West Coast utility companies to an Air National Guard base 60 miles north of New York City.
“We are working this as a team,” W. Craig Fugate, the FEMA administrator, said Friday morning at a news conference. “We are working this as a team,” W. Craig Fugate, the FEMA administrator, said at a news conference Friday morning.
Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst of the Oil Price Information Service, said the federal government may end up sending more fuel than is needed. “Anyone running for office would rather err on the side excess,” he said. “It’s a confidence builder. It will help placate people who think we are on the threshold of crisis.” Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service, said the federal government may end up sending more fuel than is needed. “Anyone running for office would rather err on the side of excess,” he said. “It’s a confidence builder. It will help placate people who think we are on the threshold of crisis.”
Government officials said they were confident that the shortages would ease in the coming week, as power is restored and the fuel now being delivered to the region eliminates any supply shortages. Government officials said they were confident that the shortages would ease in the coming week, as power was restored and the fuel now being delivered to the region arrived.
“There is no reason to panic; there is no reason for anxiety,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York said Friday at a news conference. “We understand why there was a shortage, for very definable reasons. We also understand why it’s going to be better, and it’s going to be better in the near future.” “There is no reason to panic; there is no reason for anxiety,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York said at a news conference Friday. “We understand why there was a shortage, for very definable reasons. We also understand why it’s going to be better, and it’s going to be better in the near future.”
The fuel shortage has emerged as one of the most widespread problems in the aftermath of the storm, worsening the suffering in the region. Large parts of the public transit system remained out of service, and 3.6 million customers still had no power Friday morning, down from eight million earlier in the week. The fuel shortage has emerged as one of the most widespread problems after the storm, worsening the suffering in the region. Large parts of the public transit system remained out of service, and 3.5 million customers had no power Friday afternoon, down from eight million earlier in the week, according to Energy Department figures.
Of the region’s 127 fuel terminals — which hold gasoline, heating oil and diesel fuel after they are delivered by pipeline, ship or local refinery — 25 were hit by flooding or power outages. Most have reopened or are preparing to reopen shortly, the Energy Department reported Friday. Of the region’s 127 fuel terminals — which hold gasoline, heating oil and diesel fuel after they are delivered by pipeline, ship or local refinery — 25 were hit by flooding or power failures. Most have reopened or are preparing to reopen shortly, the Energy Department said Friday.
Two refineries in the New York area remained out of service — most importantly the Phillips 66 refinery in Linden, N.J., and because of flooding there, it could be weeks before it is back on line. But the reopening of the Port of New York to tankers on Thursday, after the Coast Guard removed dangerous debris floating in the water, allowed tankers sitting off shore to begin to make their deliveries. Two refineries in the New York area remained out of service — most critically the Phillips 66 refinery in Linden, N.J., which could be out for weeks because of flooding. But the reopening of the Port of New York on Thursday, after the Coast Guard removed debris floating in the water, allowed tankers sitting off shore to begin making their deliveries.
New York City officials announced Friday afternoon that power should be restored to all of Manhattan by Saturday. Con Edison said it would restore power to a vast majority of its customers in New York State by Nov. 11, while Public Service Electric and Gas, which serves New Jersey, forecast that its efforts to restore power would be virtually complete within the next 7 to 10 days. New York City officials announced Friday afternoon that power should be restored to all of Manhattan by Saturday. Con Edison said it would restore power to a vast majority of its customers in New York State by Nov. 11, while Public Service Electric and Gas, which serves New Jersey, forecast that its efforts to restore power would be virtually complete in the next seven to 10 days.
Restoration efforts that will mean more gas stations reopening as power is brought back on. These efforts will mean more gas stations reopening as power comes back on.
Despite the closed gasoline stations, and local instances of gouging, prices at the pump have not shot up in most places. The AAA reported that the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline on Friday in New Jersey was $3.56, only 6 cents above the national average. Some communities were imposing alternating fueling days for vehicles with tags ending in even and odd numbers. The average price in New York was more than 25 cents higher, but still well short of $4. Despite the closed gas stations, and local instances of gouging, prices at the pump have not shot up in most places. AAA reported that the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in New Jersey on Friday was $3.56, only 6 cents above the national average. Some communities were imposing alternating fueling days for vehicles with license plates ending in even and odd numbers. The average price in New York was more than 25 cents higher, but still below $4.
Energy experts said their greatest fear had been that the storm would damage several large refineries on the Delaware River, but none were seriously affected and about 75 percent of the region’s refinery capacity remained on line. Energy experts said their greatest fear had been that the storm would damage several large refineries on the Delaware River. But none were seriously affected, and about 75 percent of the region’s refinery capacity remained operational.
“Some of the refineries are down, but that shouldn’t be a problem because the northeast is supplied by pipelines and ships from other parts of the country and the world,” said Bill Day, a spokesman for Valero Energy, the country’s biggest independent refiner with more than 100 branded gasoline stations in the Northeast. “Terminals, ports and pipelines are all affected by electricity outages so once the electricity is back it shouldn’t be a problem.” “Some of the refineries are down, but that shouldn’t be a problem, because the Northeast is supplied by pipelines and ships from other parts of the country and the world,” said Bill Day, a spokesman for Valero Energy, the country’s biggest independent refiner, with more than 100 branded gas stations in the Northeast. “Terminals, ports and pipelines are all affected by electricity outages, so once the electricity is back, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Energy experts said that even if the Phillips 66 refinery and the other smaller New Jersey refinery were off line for the rest of the month, the region could still get back to normal because November is typically not a month of high driving volume. Even if the Phillips 66 refinery and the other, smaller New Jersey refinery were out of service for the rest of the month, the region could still get back to normal, energy experts said, because November does not typically have high driving volume.
“Our best guess is that things will be close to normal for consumers by Wednesday,” said Brian Norris of the Oil Price Information Service.“Our best guess is that things will be close to normal for consumers by Wednesday,” said Brian Norris of the Oil Price Information Service.

Eric Lipton reported from Washington and Clifford Krauss from Houston.

Eric Lipton reported from Washington and Clifford Krauss from Houston.