Despite the efforts of officials at all levels of government to downplay the Colonial Pipeline crisis, many gas stations across Montgomery County were still out of fuel yesterday, while others hosted lines of vehicles stretching out onto the roadways. Some stations switched their digital price signs to all zeros.
Gas pumps at the Westbard Citgo station in Bethesda were roped off with yellow tape Thursday afternoon. Several stations on nearby River Road were dark last night, but drivers were able to queue up at the Shell station at 5110 River Road. Long lines were seen at gas stations at the Montgomery Village Center on Montgomery Village Avenue, and along Rockville Pike, as well.
Maryland Comptroller and Montgomery County resident Peter Franchot appeared unaware of the number of stations sold-out of gas, when he told The Washington Post that he doubted the gas app tallies of dry-tank stations across the state, arguing that the actual number was lower. Many media reports cited average prices significantly lower than what drivers were actually paying in Montgomery County yesterday.
Although the Colonial Pipeline has been restarted after the owners reportedly paid a $5 million dollar ransom, it is taking time to restock stations. Some station managers reported receiving smaller amounts of gas than they would usually get per truck.
The timing of this is, in one sense, fortunate.
ReplyDeleteAs the Pandemic winds down and there is less need for distance, it reminds us that we need to design our cities so that we are less dependent on cars for our basic needs.
I am fortunate to live in downtown Bethesda as I have only needed to use my car twice since the pipeline crisis started.
The situation is much worse in Virginia than in Maryland.
ReplyDelete17% of all gas stations in Virginia are without fuel now, versus 4% in Maryland. And higher prices, too.
There is no need to panic. The President's son is an oil and gas expert.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't Biden's fault but the volatility in the stock market and coming inflation is. Border fiasco also is most definitely on him.
ReplyDelete"This is a private sector decision" - Joe Biden.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a National Security issue but Biden can barely tell what day it is. Middle east is a disaster, inflation is now the elephant in the room and the border is the penultimate disaster.
Add to all of this is Psaki's endorsement, (Biden/Harris), of critical race theory in public schools: "If you're white and say you're not racist, then you just don't realize you're racist"
What a f**ing trainwreck this administration is.
I'm thinking of having t-shirts printed up that say: "Death to Critical Race Theorists". I think I could sell a bunch of them.
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