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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 30 augusT 2022

Low fuel inventories cause special concern in U.S. Northeast

By DAVID SHARP Associ- chusetts to more than 60%
ated Press in Maine, the most heavily
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — dependent states.
Diesel and heating oil sup- Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a
plies in the Northeast are Democrat, has urged the
more than 50% below the Energy Department to ex-
recent average, raising pedite its meeting with
concerns that an extreme governors to talk about
weather event could cause maintaining a stable heat-
supply disruptions, federal ing oil supply.
officials said. Maine is "distinctly vulnera-
Fuel supplies are lower than ble to the increased prices
normal across the country and volatility the global fos-
for a variety of reasons, in- sil fuel market is now expe-
cluding the war in Ukraine. riencing due to the Russian
But it's the worst in the invasion of Ukraine," said
Northeast. Anthony Ronzio, a spokes-
Diesel fuel and heating oil, person for the Mills admin-
which comprise the dis- istration.
tillate category, are 63% Despite the concern,
below the five-year aver- wholesale suppliers and re-
age in New England and tailers are working well to-
58% below the same aver- gether, and Ferrante said
age from Maryland to New he anticipates inventories
York, according to a survey will increase in September
by the Department of Ener- and October, easing the
gy. Gasoline inventories are immediate concerns.
not as bad, but are still at He said he is optimistic that
their lowest levels in nearly Drivers for an oil delivery company fill their trucks at the Sprague terminal, on Jan. 16, 2014, in there will be an ample sup-
a decade along the en- South Portland, Maine. ply of heating oil.
tire East Coast, the agency Associated Press "Suppliers and retail deliv-
said. ery companies are con-
The Northeast is heavily discuss the situation. In the said Michael Ferrante, of energy supplies around the cerned about prices and
dependent on heating oil meantime, she has urged the Massachusetts Energy world. inventory, but there's not
to keep homes warm in governors in a letter to take Marketers Association. In New England, the imme- any alarm bell being rung
the winter, while other re- whatever steps they can The fuel inventory concerns diate concern in the late at this time," he said. "I don't
gions rely more on natural to shore up fuel supplies in come against a back- summer is diesel fuel, but see a crisis at this point."
gas and electricity. Also, coming weeks to prevent drop of Russian's invasion the winter heating season The Energy Department
the National Oceanic and any problems. of Ukraine further shaking looms not far behind. created a heating oil re-
Atmospheric Administra- The Energy Department up an energy supply chain Heating oil disruptions serve that holds 1 million
tion has projected an ac- also sent letters to seven that was seeking to catch would hit the region hard barrels in terminals in the
tive hurricane season, and major oil companies, ask- up with growing demand. because the percentage Northeast. Those could be
a powerful weather event ing them to hold onto their The war is causing worries of homes that rely on it tapped in an emergency.
could cause disruptions, stocks to help offset low about the adequacy of range from 24% in Massa- q
since most fuel consumed stocks.
from the Middle Atlantic The federal agency has LIKE US ON
states to Maine comes from been monitoring the prob-
Gulf Coast refineries, ener- lem and is attempting to
gy officials say. be proactive with out-
Energy Secretary Jennifer reach. But there's little in-
Granholm is convening a centive for buyers to stock
meeting of New England up on high-priced fuel for
governors and their energy storage because it is antici- Facebook.com/arubatoday/
directors after Labor Day to pated that prices will drop,