Crews are working around the clock to repair a ruptured gas pipeline south of Birmingham, Alabama. (PHOTO/Colonial Pipeline)
Gas prices are on the rise and fuel supplies are running low in Georgia, one week after a key pipeline in Alabama was shut down.
According to gasbuddy.com, the average price for a gallon of regular gas has jumped 18-cents in Georgia in the past three days – from $2.09 per gallon to $2.27. Drivers have taken to social media to report shortages at local gas stations.
READ: Georgia drivers search for gas amid shortages
In an effort to keep gas flowing into the state, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal on Friday extended an executive order lifting drive time restrictions for fuel truck operators. He’s also obtained an EPA fuel waiver, temporarily easing environmental requirements for gas sold in Georgia.
Other governors in the Southeast have issued similar orders in the wake of the Colonial Pipeline break near Helena, Alabama south of Birmingham. Officials now say 6,000-8,000 barrels of gasoline (250,000-336,000 gallons) spilled from the pipeline before it was shutdown on September 9.
SEE: Colonial Pipeline response
The line supplies fuel to millions along the East Coast. The company says it’s shipping gasoline on an alternate line to help ease the impact of the shutdown.
Ships have been sent from New York to Texas to help deliver fuel to the Northeast, according to a CNN Money report.
Analysts say the pipeline shutdown could cause gas prices to continue to rise in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina over the next several days.
Colonial Pipeline, which is based in Alpharetta, Georgia, says it does not expect to fully reopen its primary gasoline pipeline until next week.
