President Joe Biden asked Americans to avoid buying unnecessary gasoline as the Colonial pipeline reopens after hackers shut it down earlier this week. The president also issued a warning to vendors against price gouging and said the U.S. is working with Russian leaders to take “decisive action” against the hackers, who the FBI says are not Russian but are based in Russia.
Currently, there is no gasoline shortage in Illinois, but if the pipeline shutdown continues past the weekend, it could create broader fuel disruptions.
The Colonial Pipeline, which delivers about 45% of what is consumed on the East Coast, was hit on Friday with a cyberattack by hackers who lock up computer systems and demand a ransom to release them. The pipeline company reported "substantial progress" in resuming operations this week, however.
Gas is flowing again across most of the Deep South, and other parts that were offline in the Mid-Atlantic region were expected to become operational later Thursday, the company said.
“We are not out of the woods yet, but the trees are thinning out,” Richard Joswick, global head of oil analytics at S&P Global Platts said in an email to NBC News. He estimates that full recovery for the East Coast and Gulf Coast will take a couple of weeks at least due to lags and limits for all shipping options.
President Joe Biden said Thursday that U.S. officials do not believe the Russian government was involved in the Colonial Pipeline hack, but “we do have strong reason to believe that the criminals who did the attack are living in Russia. That’s where it came from.”
The U.S. had been in direct communication with Moscow about the need to take action against ransom networks, Biden said. The FBI has said the ransomware belonged to a criminal syndicate known as DarkSide.
After the pipeline hack led to panic-buying that contributed to more than 1,000 gas stations running out of fuel, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is also reminding drivers not to fill plastic bags with gasoline
"We know this sounds simple, but when people get desperate they stop thinking clearly," the commission tweeted Wednesday. "They take risks that can have deadly consequences. If you know someone who is thinking about bringing a container not meant for fuel to get gas, please let them know it's dangerous."
“What you’re feeling is not a lack of supply or a supply issue. What we have is a transportation issue,” said Jeanette McGee, spokeswoman for the AAA auto club. “There is ample supply to fuel the United States for the summer, but what we’re having an issue with is getting it to those gas stations because the pipeline is down.”
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However, the disruption is taking place at the time of year when Americans begin to become more mobile, especially as the nation emerges from the pandemic.
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Gas prices are rising in Illinois and in the rest of the United States as residents prepare to travel for Memorial Day.
According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gas in the state has risen from $3.163 per gallon to $3.225 in the past seven days for regular unleaded fuel.
As of Tuesday, Gasbuddy.com listed Illinois as having the highest average gas price in the Midwest.
AAA listed the current national average at $3.008 Wednesday, marking the first time the average has ticked about $3 since 2016. Prices begin to rise around this time every year, however.
AAA predicts the national gas price average will rise even higher in response to the Colonial Pipeline shutdown.
"This shutdown will have implications on both gasoline supply and prices, but the impact will vary regionally," AAA spokesperson Jeanette McGee said in a statement.
AAA released its holiday forecast on Tuesday, showing that 1.8 million Illinoisans plan to travel for the holiday. That’s just under pre-pandemic levels of 2 million in 2019; 57% higher than 2020.
“Last year, gas prices were so low. Now, people are looking at the gas prices today and it feels like a sticker shock,” said AAA spokeswoman Molly Hart. “There is a likelihood that gas prices will go up a bit more.”
Gas prices are dramatically higher in 2021 compared to last year. Last May, gasoline cost $2.115 a gallon on average, according to AAA.
Hart cites vaccinations and eagerness to “get out” as the main reasons for the return of travelers.
Here are some tips for conserving fuel, according to AAA:
- Plan ahead to accomplish multiple errands in one trip, and whenever possible avoid high-traffic times of day.
- If you own more than one car, use the most fuel-efficient model that meets the needs of any given journey.
- Remove unnecessary and bulky items from your car. Minimize your use of roof racks and remove special carriers when not in use. It takes more fuel to accelerate a heavier car, and the reduction in fuel economy is greater for small cars than for larger models.
- Minimize your use of air conditioning. Even at highway speeds, open windows have less effect on fuel economy than the engine power required to operate the air conditioning compressor.
- In hot weather, park in the shade or use a windshield sunscreen to lessen heat buildup inside the car. This reduces the need for air conditioning (and thus fuel) to cool down the car.
