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Emergency fuel waiver issued for Michigan and three other states to ease rising gas prices after storms
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Emergency fuel waiver issued for Michigan and three other states to ease rising gas prices after storms

The Environmental Protection Agency is issuing an emergency fuel waiver to help ease gasoline shortages in four Midwestern states following the closure of a refinery in Illinois.

Last month, Exxon Mobil shut down its refinery in Joliet, Illinois, after a power outage caused by tornadoes and severe storms that swept through the region. Power has been restored, but it can take weeks to get a facility like Exxon Mobil’s refinery, about 40 miles from Chicago, which can produce about 8 million gallons of gasoline and diesel a day, up and running again.

In addition to Illinois, the EPA approved the waiver for Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan.

Federal rules require the sale of gasoline with low Reid vapor pressure during the summer months because a higher RVP evaporates more easily and can contribute to ozone pollution and smog. That’s what’s being temporarily eliminated, along with reformulated gasoline requirements for the four states. Reformulated gasoline is blended to burn cleaner than conventional gasoline and to reduce air pollutants.

The exemption will continue until August 20.

According to AAA, gas prices in all four states rose sharply after the storms, with prices in all states exceeding $3.45 a gallon. In Illinois, the price is about $4 a gallon, which is currently one of the highest in the country. Gas prices in California and Washington are above $4 a gallon, where higher gas prices are more common.

The EPA and the Department of Energy evaluated the situation, as required by law, and determined that granting a short-term waiver was in the best interest of the public.

EPA and DOE continue to actively monitor the fuel supply situation caused by the refinery closure and are considering additional measures to help alleviate its impact.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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