The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has enacted an emergency fuel waiver to address gasoline shortages in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan following the closure of an Exxon Mobil refinery in Joliet, Illinois.
The Joliet refinery, which was responsible for producing approximately 9 million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel daily, was forced to shut down last month due to a power outage caused by severe storms and tornadoes in the area. Although power has been restored, the complex process of restarting the refinery could take several weeks.
To mitigate the impact on fuel supply, the EPA has temporarily suspended federal regulations requiring the sale of low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) gasoline during the summer months. This waiver also includes the suspension of reformulated gasoline requirements, which are designed to reduce air pollutants by ensuring cleaner-burning fuel.
The waiver, effective through August 20, aims to alleviate the significant spike in gasoline prices that followed the refinery shutdown. In the affected states, prices have surged beyond $3.45 per gallon, with Illinois experiencing costs around $4 per gallon—among the highest in the nation. For comparison, gasoline prices in California and Washington, where $4 per gallon is more common, are also elevated.
The EPA, alongside the Department of Energy (DOE), conducted a thorough evaluation of the situation and concluded that the temporary waiver is in the public’s best interest. Both agencies will continue to monitor the fuel supply situation and are exploring further actions to mitigate the effects of the refinery’s closure.