I called the looming gas shortage on Wednesday.

[liz_marcs]

Remember when I mentioned that I've been spotting scattered signs that the U.S. might be heading for a gas shortage?

Remember my poll?

Remember I mentioned this on Wednesday?

Now is the time to mention:

Sometimes I really, really hate being right.

Granted, the cause cited in the Reuters article cites the "transition to a new anti-smog gasoline blend using corn-based ethanol as an additive" for the current crop of gas shortages. However, it seems to me that I've been seeing warning signs of a coming problem long before the past few days.

I'm not convinced that this going to settle down at all once the "distribution" issues for the new gas are worked out. I think we're going to see lines this summer that'll rival the Carter-era gas crunch (or at least what I can remember of it in my very, very dim and very, very young childhood memories).

And if our sociopath-in-chief decides to drop a bomb on Iran in the next month or two...well, we can all kiss cheap and possibly plentiful gas goodbye.

*hugs my Saturn and its 38 mpg*

Comments

[kurukami.livejournal.com]

Yeah. *siiiiiigh* Looks like I'll need to be dusting off my bike pretty soon now. : P

[jebbypal]

as much as I'm glad they are getting rid of the previous additive, I have a horrible fear that the "corn" based ethanol is going to cause me to get asthma on high smog days. I already almost choke when I pass mexican food trucks using corn oil to cook.

[smashsc.livejournal.com]

As of right now it sounds like a supply delivery problem. You might have seen signs sooner than the rest of the country b/c maybe Mass. has more oil pipeline delivery than elsewhere in the country, maybe your state law requires the switch to spring/summer gas sooner than elsewhere, maybe your state has enough smog issues that y'all use MTBE more months of the year so the problem occurred sooner - or maybe you are just more observant.

I don't know, MTBE is nasty stuff but switching to ethanol is a logistical headache. Hopefully the delivery issues will get sorted out and it won't turn into an actual shortage.

It is still the bus for me. At any gas price I save money by taking the bus (woohoo for work incentives) but the more expensive gas is the better the deal is for me.

[soundingsea.livejournal.com]

sociopath-in-chief

Heh. So true, so true.

*hugs her bicycle -- it runs on granola bars*

[midnightfae.livejournal.com]

Sadly, this does not explain why gas here in the desert is $3.00 a gallon. And going into the summer too, when my usage goes up because I'm a wimpy California girl who can't stand the heat and runs her AC and because I work five days a week in an area with no bus system.

Woe.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

I heard that on the radio this morning and totally thought of you.

[draconin.livejournal.com]

Thought you might appreciate for comparison: petrol (gas) is currently $1.40/litre at my local (West Australia). This equates to US$4.50/gallon. So don't complain too loudly!