Last month, due to a power outage caused by tornadoes and severe storms in the region, Exxon Mobil had to shut down its refinery in Joliet, Illinois. Although power has been restored, restarting a facility like the Exxon Mobil refinery can take weeks. Located about 40 miles outside of Chicago, this refinery has the capacity to produce approximately 9 million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel per day.
The EPA has granted the waiver not only for Illinois but also for Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan.
Check out the latest headlines from Indiana in this video.
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As of 7am on August 5th, here are the latest headlines.
During the summer months, federal regulations require the sale of gasoline with low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) to prevent the exacerbation of ozone pollution and smog caused by higher RVP that easily evaporates. In addition, the temporary waiver includes the reformulated gasoline requirements for the four states. Reformulated gasoline is specifically blended to burn cleaner than conventional gasoline and minimize air pollutants.
The waiver extension will be in effect until August 20th.
According to AAA, the recent storms have caused a surge in gas prices in four states, with gasoline costing more than $3.45 per gallon. Illinois is currently experiencing one of the highest prices in the country, with gas priced at approximately $4 per gallon. Meanwhile, California and Washington are seeing prices soar above $4 per gallon, which is more typical for these states.
As per the legal requirements, the EPA and Department of Energy conducted an assessment of the situation and concluded that it would be in the best interest of the public to grant a temporary waiver.
The shutdown of the refinery has caused a disruption in the fuel supply, and the EPA and DOE are closely monitoring the situation. They are also exploring various measures to mitigate the impact of the shutdown.
