August 31, 2005

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today declared an energy emergency in Michigan and signed three executive orders to temporarily suspend state laws that restrict the supply of gasoline.  The move comes one day after the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) asked the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a waiver to lift the requirement for use of low “Reid Vapor Pressure” (RVP) gasoline in Southeast Michigan.   
 
“The executive orders I have signed today will allow for greater flexibility in meeting the needs of Michigan citizens in the coming days,” said Granholm.  “Area oil refineries are working to increase capacity to protect against shortages, but we need maximum flexibility to meet demand and to transport fuel to areas that need it most.”
 
Granholm said that Executive Orders 2005-16, 2005-17 and 2005-18 will allow for the temporary suspension of the rules regulating use of RVP gasoline and restricting the hours when tanker trucks can be on the road.  She also said that the emergency order will provide the state with flexibility to meet any additional problems that arise in coming days.  The emergency order will remain in effect for 90 days or until it is rescinded by executive order.
 
The EPA waiver will allow for additional supply to be transported in the seven counties of Southeast Michigan to ensure that there are no localized shortages as a result of hard-to-find RVP gasoline.  The waiver will be in effect for seven days.  A similar waiver and state of emergency occurred during the blackout in August 2003.

“We continue to monitor the situation on the Gulf Coast and have been in contact with the governors’ offices, law enforcement, and relief agencies to determine how we can help,” Granholm said.

Granholm said that although the state has not yet received a formal request for help, the Michigan State Police is coordinating volunteer efforts on behalf of the state of Michigan.  She said specific requests from state governors or through the Federal Emergency Management Agency are expected in the next few days, and she encouraged anyone interested in contributing to relief efforts to visit the state’s Web page at www.michigan.gov or the American Red Cross for recommendations on the best ways to get involved.

The Governor also addressed the issue of gouging directly.  “In the last two days, my office has received over 300 contacts from constituents complaining of gouging.  I want to assure the citizens of Michigan that I am taking those complaints and forwarding all of them to the Attorney General’s office for follow-up.  I expect that the Attorney General will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law any gas companies found to be gouging customers.”