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-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Obama opens strategic oil reserve to alleviate Hurricane Sandy shortage
2012-11-04
[Washington Examiner] President B.O.'s Energy Department is tapping the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve, a component of Strategic Petroleum Reserve, to alleviate the diesel fuel shortage brought on by Hurricane Sandy hitting the northeastern part of the country.

"Today's announcement is part of the broader federal effort to respond to those impacted by Hurricane Sandy," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a statement on the decision to loan diesel fuel to the Defense Department, which is engaged in a variety of disaster response efforts pertaining to the hurricane.

DOD will pull 2 million gallons of ultra-low sulfur diesel out of the reserve, "which will be distributed to state, local and federal responders in the New York/New Jersey area, will be used to provide additional supplies to ensure continued response and recovery efforts. This includes fuel for emergency equipment and buildings, including electrical generators, water pumps, GSA buildings, trucks and other vehicles," according to DOE.
Posted by:Fred

#14  Don't know about the home heating title of that reserve, but DOD uses a *lot* of diesel, FWIW.
Posted by: lotp   2012-11-04 19:30  

#13  It's harder to store natural gas though.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain   2012-11-04 19:22  

#12  That's exactly what it is Glemore. A frankly I think the feds have jumped on the opportunity to dump it. Gas is taking over even the last hold outs in the NE.
It was indeed a strategic assets, but it's time has gone.
Posted by: Shipman   2012-11-04 15:27  

#11  There are various components to oil 'Reserves' - originally they were oil fields which had been discovered but not placed on production (Teapot Dome scandal involved such, IIRC), the 'Strategic Petrolum Reserve', which involved underground storage caverns into which oil purchased by the government is pumped, and this thing called Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve, which I had not heard of. By its title one would be led to believe it held heating oil to be fed into the local market if there was a critical short-term shortage (or if a politician needed some votes), but apparently it must include millions of gallons of prime diesel fuel (which one would/should not use for home heating - though in a pinch we did use a can of kerosene to get through a frigid night.)
Posted by: Glenmore   2012-11-04 10:14  

#10  "Chu said, "we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe."

That's easy. Just tax it to death.

Gas price in Germany: 1 gallon would amount to $7.75
Posted by: European Conservative   2012-11-04 09:55  

#9  Restoration of power should go on in parallel with providing survival basics to people. Cleanup may have to go on in parallel also to open roads so that these other functions can go on.
Posted by: JohnQC   2012-11-04 09:41  

#8  The NYC people in the clobbered areas need: Food, water, shelter, medicines/medical help, police protection, adequate clothing as a survival basic. Next they need to get the power back on and things cleaned up. If Bloomberg or the Feds can't do that, then they ought to get the hell out of the way and let someone else do it.
Posted by: JohnQC   2012-11-04 09:37  

#7  Is this the same Steven Chu who previously said “Somehow,” Chu said, “we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.”
Posted by: JohnQC   2012-11-04 09:32  

#6  Obama opens strategic oil reserve to alleviate Hurricane Sandy Polling Number shortage.

FIFY!
Posted by: CrazyFool   2012-11-04 07:44  

#5  My understanding is that the SPR is unrefined oil and the problem is power to pump at the station and delivery to the station. Sounds like pre-election eyewash.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2012-11-04 07:00  

#4  Glenmore, as I read the article this fuel isn't intended to heat buildings but rather to power generators, trucks etc. for the National Guard and other DOD responders.
Posted by: lotp   2012-11-04 05:39  

#3  I paid $3.14 at Fort Benning yesterday. (which is the local free-market average) The irony is, there's plenty of oil right now. With so many gas stations closed due to electrical shortages and people staying home from work and travel, demand has actually dropped.

Declining demand results in an oil surplus and lower prices. An infusion of oil (bought by the US Gov't at a premium) will only cock-up the market process. That oil, when purchased and replaced once again, will be bought at (yes) at a premium price.

Proving once again our Champ knows little of economics, but a great deal about media impacts on the simple minded.
Posted by: Besoeker   2012-11-04 04:54  

#2  I'm confused; tapping the Home Heating Oil Reserve will alleviate diesel fuel shortage? But heating oil won't run diesels and having ultra-low sulfur diesel for heating oil is incredibly wasteful. But I forgot - it's a gov't program, so of course it's wasteful.
Posted by: Glenmore   2012-11-04 01:27  

#1  As long as that fuel is delivered by Teamsters, it will be ok, of course. /sarcasm
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia   2012-11-04 00:17  

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