Posted February 12, 2014
A group of U.S. Senators recently asked the Obama
Administration for help in overcoming a propane shortage, according to a press
release from Sen. Thad Cochran’s office available here.
Sens. Thad Cochran (R-MS), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and 27
others sent a letter to President Obama Monday citing residential and wholesale
propane price increases resulting from a drop in propane supplies. An Energy Information Agency report shows
“propane stocks are 24 million barrels lower than last year, a nearly 44
percent decline.”
The letter says: “Homes, businesses and farms
desperately need propane, and the shortage threatens the safety of families and
the financial stability of farms and businesses. Thankfully, propane suppliers are already
responding to market forces and taking extraordinary steps to increase supplies
in hard-hit areas. Until propane stocks
recover, the government should continue to provide and/or expand short-term
regulatory relief to incentivize these activities.”
“We ask you to identify and implement sensible
strategies, provided by law, to guide federal agencies in assisting states with
efforts to mitigate the effects of the current propane shortage. In particular, we ask you to review all
available options to facilitate and enable the transportation of propane to
areas with shortages, via interstate pipeline and other modes of
transportation.”
A link to the letter and a full list of the Senators
who signed the letter is available here. WJTV News and MS Business also reported on
the story here
and here.
