Governor Gretchen Whitmer has taken action to safeguard Michigan residents from probable fuel and gas supply disruptions, in the wake of an oil refinery outage in Illinois. This move is aimed at ensuring that the state’s citizens have access to uninterrupted fuel and gas supplies, which are essential for daily activities.
In order to take necessary precautions, the governor has taken the initiative to send a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to request an emergency fuel waiver.
With the refinery outage and the ongoing hurricane season, fuel prices are subject to fluctuations. However, a waiver has been put in place to increase the supply of fuel and alleviate any potential price spikes. This move is especially important as Michiganders gear up for summer travel plans.
Governor Whitmer stated her commitment to safeguarding Michiganders from fuel supply disruptions by taking immediate action. She emphasized the need to proactively protect access to fuel for cars, homes, and businesses, especially during hurricane season and a refinery outage in Illinois. The Governor pledged to collaborate with the EPA to remove temporary barriers, ensuring that an adequate and stable fuel supply remains available and affordable for the people of Michigan. Let’s work together to get it done.
Severe weather conditions led to the unexpected shutdown of the ExxonMobil Joliet Refinery in Illinois this summer, with the outage likely to extend until August. The upcoming 2024 hurricane season is predicted to be intense, posing a potential threat to the transportation of fuel from the Gulf region.
Letter to the EPA from Governor Whitmer:
Michigan requests that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issue a waiver regarding reformulated gasoline regulations in Michigan. With a refinery in the region being offline due to unforeseen circumstances… precautionary measures must be taken to contain fuel supply disruptions and potential cost increases across the region.
My administration has been in close communication with officials in Illinois and other Midwest states since the ExxonMobil Joliet Refinery lost power and went offline on July 15 due to severe weather…
I respectfully ask that you consider this request, as it has the potential to prevent fuel supply disruptions and reduce or eliminate the potential impact on residents in Michigan and across the Midwest.
