Shortage makes it hard to find gasoline at any price

It has been projected that the gas shortage that has plagued the Southeast will come to an end in another week or two. Sights like this have been all too common in Lincolnton and the surrounding areas. For three weeks now, drivers in Lincoln County and other areas of Georgia have been chasing an elusive commodity: gasoline - - at any price.

It's here one day, and gone the next, varying grades at prices that seem to change hourly.

State and industry officials say the problem started with the shutdown of oil platforms and refineries in the Gulf of Mexico in preparation for Hurricane Ike and the subsequent shutdown of the two pipelines bringing the product to the Southeast.

The refineries are currently back online, but there is little product because it take time to produce and ship the gasoline and diesel fuel and demand is so incredibly high.

In his comments, Neal Dolvin, plant manager for the Willis Oil Company in Union Point, Georgia, stated, "We have been told things should stabilize in about a week - - that shipments should be coming into the terminals in Athens and Doraville, where we pick up our product. We're getting a little product now but not anything like we need."

On Monday, September 29, Ernie Guthrie, owner of the Fast Times Convenience Store, said he had no gasoline at the present time but that a tanker truck, which has a capacity of 9,000 gallons of fuel, had just delivered 1,000 gallons of diesel.

"What we need is four full tankerloads of gas, on-road diesel, and offroad diesel to get our inventory back to where it was," said Guthrie. "I don't know how long it will take the trucking business to catch up on deliveries. The best information I can get is it will take a couple of weeks for things to get back to normal.

"One thing that has surprised me though is the fact that the shortage hasn't affected prices that much," he continued. "Earlier today, oil dropped $5 a barrel to $101.50."

On the other hand, Guthrie indicated that the gasoline shortage has affected his inside sales by half. "It's not going to be a quick fix."

According to Roby Seymour, director of the Lincoln County Department of Public Works, "We haven't had any trouble getting gas or diesel fuel because due to our emergency management facility and the school system, we operate at a higher priority level."

He noted that the county's diesel tank was empty for three hours last week, but the situation was quickly rectified.

As for regular drivers, there are steps they can take to help positively deal with the gas shortage. These include:

.. Do not over-react and buy all the gas you can, every chance you get.

"When shipments do arrive, everybody gets in a panic to fill up, which drains the supply," said Bob Marrett of Thomson Gas and Oil. "People just need to buy at their regular pace and fill up when they're almost out. This would allow deliveries to catch up with demand."

He explained: "If that extra half tank of gas is in your tank rather than the gas station's, multiplied by a few thousand drivers, that's where the gas shortage is."

.. Rapid accelerating, tailgating, and waiting until the last minute to slow down can reduce fuel economy.

.. Under-inflated tires can reduce fuel economy by as much as two percent per pound of pressure below the recommended level.

.. Don't top off the gas tank and tighten the cap.

.. Don't accelerate up hill. Build up speed before an incline and then maintain it on the way up. Coast on the way down for additional fuel economy.

.. Loading a car's roof rack can reduce mileage 10 to 20 percent in highway driving because of the increased wind resistance.

.. Try carpooling.

.. Go the speed limit, and use cruise control. A motorist can get up to 20 percent more mileage traveling 55 mph than 70 mph.

.. Remove junk from the trunk. Added weight in one's vehicle affects fuel economy.

The comments below reflect how the shortage is impacting the local populace:

Al Bean: "The lack of diesel fuel is creating a financial burden for the forestry industry in Lincoln County, along with all of the other companies that require diesel to do business. We should do everything in our power to stay in contact with our legislators to resolve this problem as soon as possible."

Annette Tutt: "I would never have thought there would be a time when we couldn't get gas in Lincolnton, but it has happened. I just don't go very far."

J.B. Mathews: "I plan my trips more carefully, consolidating them whenever I can. I think it's an expensive burden for lots of folks, but it's a market condition that will hopefully be corrected as the petroleum industry in the Gulf recovers from the hurricane."

Emma Smith: "I think the prices are awful, especially for people who were already struggling before the shortage and for those who have to visit the doctor for treatment on a regular basis. It's also hard on volunteer drivers, who really want to help."

Nelson Brooks: "It's making me talk to people on the phone a lot more, and I combine my personal trips to Augusta, Washington, and Athens. In fact, I walked to church Sunday."

Judy Jordan: "It has already affected my business — people don't have as much money to spend because of the high gas prices. Also, I forget that I need to get gas and then I get stranded. I'm used to riding on empty — it's a bad habit that I will definitely have to break."