web1_jensen.jpg

PA CareerLink sponsoring pre-apprenticeship program

web1_lccf03.jpg

Proposed new Luzerne County prison at standstill

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; With Hurricane Harvey causing refinery and pipeline shutdowns, there has been a sharp spike in gas prices across the country, including in Pennsylvania.</p><p>In fact, average prices in the Wilkes-Barre area have shot up 14 cents per gallon in the past week.</p><p>Friday&#8217;s average national gas price was $2.52 per gallon &#8212; up 7 cents overnight and 17 cents in the past week to the highest recorded price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline so far this year.</p><p>The combination of refinery and pipeline shutdowns, tightened access to supply levels in the Gulf and anticipated high gasoline demand surrounding Labor Day weekend means motorists may not have seen the full impact of Harvey.</p><p>&#8220;Consumers will see a short-term spike in the coming weeks with gas prices likely topping $2.50 per gallon, but quickly dropping by mid to late September,&#8221; said Jana L. Tidwell, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. &#8220;AAA does not expect refineries to be offline for months, as early reports indicate minimal to no significant damage to Corpus Christi and Houston refineries, but the coming days will offer more insight.&#8221;</p><p>Friday&#8217;s average gas price in Wilkes-Barre jumped to $2.66, up 8 cents overnight and 14 cents in the past week.</p><p>Pennsylvania&#8217;s gas average was at $2.70, up 8 cents overnight and 16 cents in the last week.</p><p>&#8220;When you see what&#8217;s going on in Houston, you can hardly refer to an increase in gas prices as &#8216;pain&#8217; at the pump,&#8221; Tidwell said. &#8220;That said, the timing of the increase is unfortunate for all those planning one final road trip this summer, as motorists are expected to pay the highest Labor Day gas prices in two years.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Status of refineries</strong></p><p>As of Wednesday, the Department of Energy was reporting that 10 Gulf Coast refineries remained shut down. Six refineries had begun the process of assessing damage and restarting, which may take several days. Two refineries in the Gulf Coast region were operating at reduced rates.</p><p>Additionally, DOE released 500,000 barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve &#8212; the nation&#8217;s reserve of crude oil. The oil will be delivered via pipeline to the Phillips 66 refinery in Westlake, La. According to DOE, it will continue to review incoming requests for oil in the reserve, meaning it could release more if deemed necessary.</p><p>In addition to refinery shutdowns, several major pipelines continue to operate at reduced rates, have shut down or plan to shut down due to lack of supply. The Colonial Pipeline announced it expects to temporarily suspend its gasoline, diesel and jet fuel pipelines. With its supplying refineries closed in the area, the pipeline operator cited reduced output as the reason. The pipeline originates in Houston and supplies the East Coast.</p><p>&#8220;The shutdowns do not indicate a shortage of gasoline supplies in the Gulf Coast region or across the country,&#8221; added Tidwell. &#8220;These are preventative measures. Overall stocks in the Gulf are above average levels and will be available to drivers once power is restored and area roads are cleared.&#8221;</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Tidwell-2-cmyk-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tidwell </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Tidwell-2-cmyk-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Tidwell </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_AAA-Mid-Atlantic-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">AAA Mid-Atlantic Logo.jpg</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_AAA-Mid-Atlantic-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>AAA Mid-Atlantic Logo.jpg</caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Harvey hikes gas prices 14 cents a gallon in Wilkes-Barre in past week