U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has urged the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee leaders to hold a hearing on legislation he filed last fall in the wake of Hurricane Irma that would require the federal government to set up fuel reserves on Florida’s east and west coasts that could be used in the event of another major storm hitting the state.
“During Hurricane Irma, Floridians struggled with gas shortages throughout the state, leaving first responders with limited fuel options and threatening residents’ ability to safely evacuate,” Nelson wrote. “In the absence of preventative measures taken by the state, I’m concerned that Floridians are just as vulnerable to fuel shortages today as they were during last year’s hurricanes.”
The legislation Nelson filed last October would require the secretary of energy to create a “Florida Gasoline Supply Reserve” that would hold a minimum of one million barrels of refined petroleum products in two locations: one on Florida’s west coast and one on its east coast. The Department of Energy created a similar gas reserve in the Northeast following Superstorm Sandy.
Gas shortages became widespread throughout Florida as residents and visitors were ordered to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Irma last September. Those gasoline shortages not only affected Floridians trying to flee the storm’s path, but they also hampered first responders’ and local governments’ efforts to fully prepare for the storm.
Once established, Nelson says the gas reserves he wants to create in Florida would be used to ensure that residents and first responders have access to the fuel they need before, during and after a storm.
“This reserve could be in the form of specific fuel terminals at various ports, tank farms strategically positioned along major evacuation routes, or a public-private partnership that keeps a rotating supply of gas available for emergencies,” Nelson wrote. “It’s important to consult with experts and emergency managers so that we can prepare for future storms immediately, and a congressional hearing would provide an opportunity to hear from them as well as other stakeholders.”
