Atlanta gas shortage caused in part by EPA

The Atlanta Metro area is required by the EPA to sell a low sulphur fuel which supposedly burns cleaner. This is "boutique fuel" and isn't made in large quantities by refineries. So when refining capacity decreases, so does the supply of our "boutique fuel". This is also why they can't just truck gas in from other areas. Well today, finally, the EPA has given the area a waiver on the low sulphur fuel, allowing stations to sell standard stuff. Unfortunately we have so much pent up demand that I think it will be a minimum of one week before we see a comfortable level of supply. More likely it will be two weeks. This was a completely forseeable and avoidable crisis, triggered by a hurricane but exacerbated by our slow thinking and acting, dimwitted bueraucrats, both at the state and national levels.

Here are the stories:

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2008/09/21/atlanta_gas_pumps_low.html

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2008/09/22/atlanta_gas_problems.html