MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — To prevent shortages and outages at Arizona gas stations supplied with fuel from California refineries, the Environmental Protection Agency is delaying when the area must switch to the summer-compliant blend.
The delay is to prevent a "fuel supply emergency" after an "unplanned service disruption" on the western pipeline that supplies gas from California refineries, according to the agency. Gov. Hobbs secured the EPA waiver on Thursday.
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Maricopa County and portions of Pinal and Yavapai County all receive gas from the western pipeline.
Under the rules, most gas stations in the area can sell winter blend gas until June 14 this year. Normally, gas stations are required to switch to the summer-compliant blend which is more eco-friendly but more expensive and harder to get.
“I am glad the EPA has allowed us to take this proactive measure that will help keep costs down at the gas pump as we enter the summer months,” said Gov. Katie Hobbs. “This waiver will ensure continuity of gasoline supply throughout the state and help mitigate potential effects that come with transitioning to Arizona’s summer gasoline blend."
You can read the waiver in full here.
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