Gallego Urges the EPA to Lower Gas Prices for Arizonans
Gallego has repeatedly pushed the EPA and refineries to lower Arizona gas prices
PHOENIX – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) took action and pushed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to grant a fuel waiver for Maricopa County, as well as portions of Pinal and Yavapai Counties, in order to lower gas prices in Arizona.
Rep. Gallego states in a letter to the agency that, “without a waiver, retailers will need to draw down their gasoline supplies to comply with summer CBG [Cleaner Burning Gas] rules. The resulting very low levels of gasoline storage could leave Maricopa County stranded without gas if any other pipeline and supply disruptions were to occur.”
“In one of the fastest-growing economic hubs in the country, we cannot risk having residents waiting in long lines or paying unaffordable prices for gasoline,” he continues.
Parts of Arizona – including Maricopa County – use Cleaner Burning Gas (CBG) to mitigate air pollution and protect the health of residents. Arizonans in the Maricopa County area use CBG year-round but with different formulas in the summer and winter.
One of the pipelines that brings gas to Arizona was damaged and experienced reduced capacity in mid-April. These delays could cause a shortage of summer CBG supplies, raising prices. To avoid this, Rep. Gallego supports Arizona’s request for a waiver that will allow it to use more abundant, less expensive winter CBG for longer.
Full text of the letter can be found HERE.
In March, Rep. Gallego warned the EPA about this possibility and called on the Agency to work with the state to prevent high gas prices. Earlier this month, he wrote to the 11 oil refineries from which Arizona sources its unique blend of CBG, pushing the refineries to explain their supply chain issues and why prices keep going up.
In October last year, he held a call with representatives from Kinder Morgan, the operator of the Santa Fe Petroleum Pipeline system, which includes the two lines that provide gas to Maricopa County. And in April 2023, he urged President Biden and his administration to do everything in his authority to address the rising gas prices affecting Arizona families, businesses, and communities.