The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has authorized an emergency fuel waiver in response to gasoline shortages in four Midwestern states following the closure of a refinery in Illinois.
Exxon Mobil ceased operations at its Joliet refinery last month due to a power outage triggered by severe storms and tornadoes in the region. Although power has been restored, the process of restarting a facility of this scale can take several weeks. The refinery typically produces around 9 million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel daily.
The EPA has granted the fuel waiver for Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan. This waiver temporarily suspends the requirement for low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) gasoline during the summer months. Additionally, reformulated gasoline mandates have been waived in these states. Reformulated gasoline is designed to burn more cleanly than conventional gasoline, reducing air pollutants.
The waiver is effective until August 20th. Following the storms, gas prices in the affected states surged, with prices exceeding $3.45 per gallon, according to AAA. In Illinois, prices are around $4 per gallon, ranking among the highest in the nation. California and Washington also have gas prices exceeding $4 per gallon, a more common occurrence in those states.
The EPA and Department of Energy conducted a thorough assessment, as required by law, and concluded that granting a temporary waiver was in the best interest of the public. Both agencies are actively monitoring the fuel supply situation resulting from the refinery shutdown and are exploring additional measures to mitigate its impact.
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