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Chattanooga: Gas shortages could end by late next week, expert says

By: Jason Reynolds
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Bob Doak

Chattanooga continues to experience gas shortages and it could be late next week before supplies return to normal, an expert says.

Meanwhile, tourism was affected in September by the fuel shortages and price spikes, said Bob Doak, chief executive of the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. It’s too early to quantify yet, he said, but “economic jitters” over the recent meltdown on Wall Street were a factor as well.

The gas situation should be back to normal by the end of next week now that the refineries in the Gulf of Mexico are back online after being hit by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, said Gregg Laskoski, managing director of public relations for AAA Auto Club South.

Staff Photo by Shane McMillan
Customers wait to pump gas at the On the Run gas station on the corner of Hixson Pike and Lupton Drive. Customers rushed to the pumps after rumors spread that supply would drop due to disruptions in the Gulf of Mexico following the hurricanes.

The hurricanes also hit when refineries had begun the process of switching to producing winter fuel blends instead of summer blends, he said. Summer fuel blends have more additives, which allow them to burn cleaner in the ozone-prone days of summer, Mr. Laskoski said.

Steve Ray, owner of Steve Ray’s Neighborhood AAA Center in Ootlewah, said stations want to buy gas faster than it’s being supplied. The problem is that gas wholesalers allocate a quota every day of how much gas they will sell, and they quit selling once that quota is met, whether more gas is available or not, he said.

Mr. Ray said he has not been able to get enough supreme-grade gas at his station. He had a load due Friday, he said, but it was cut in half because another station needed some as well.

“It’s funny that Knoxville has gas,” he said. “It seems like we’re being punished. However, I don’t know what crime we committed to be punished.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Doak said he is optimistic about tourism this weekend.

“We understand a return to normalcy is supposed to happen over the next few days,” he said.

Staff Writer Herman Wang contributed to this story.

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