June 15, 2017

New Jersey Gasoline, C-Store, Automotive Association Supports Assembly Resolution to Preserve Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve (NGSR)

Trump Administration proposal to sell-off Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve, created after Sandy, will harm NJ motorists and station owners and make New Jersey vulnerable again

NJGCA Executive Director Sal Risalvato released the following comments in advance of his testimony at the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee this afternoon, in support of Assembly Resolution 271, urging the preservation of the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve:

“In a few hours, in Statehouse Annex Room 12, I will have the opportunity to testify in support of Assembly Resolution 271, sponsored and introduced by my good friend, Committee Chairwoman Annette Quijano, urging the preservation of the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve. As you may know from a previous press release I wrote on May 25, President Trump’s proposed budget includes language which would eliminate the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve and cut in half the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Created in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, these reserves will allow residents, small business owners, emergency personnel and first responders to get back on the roads and back to work as soon as it is safe.”

“Having been deeply involved in the State’s reaction to the crisis,” Risalvato continued, “I can state unequivocally that the cause of the gas crisis was NOT the lack of power. It was only for the first two or three days that a significant number of gas stations had fuel in the ground but no power to pump it. Under Governor Christie’s orders, power companies made getting stations back online a priority. The crisis stemmed from a lack of supply caused by the unprecedented storm surge that knocked out a variety of our refineries, terminals, and other fueling infrastructure. Tanker trucks full of fuel were being brought in from as far as Indiana to try and meet the public’s demand. I know of multiple station owners who went a full ten days with their power on and no fuel deliveries. Station owners were getting a delivery, selling out in three or four hours, and closing shop again for days. A Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve would put New Jersey and our neighboring states in a much better position to recover quickly from any future natural disasters, and President Trump wants to eliminate that protection to help balance his budget.”

“I am relieved and encouraged to know that Assemblywoman Quijano has recognized the foolishness of this short-sighted proposal and has taken swift action to voice her opposition. I fully expect this Assembly Resolution to receive bipartisan support in the Committee Hearing today, and whenever the Resolution is brought to the floor for a vote in front of the entire New Jersey General Assembly. Additionally, though this resolution does not need the Governor’s signature or approval, given his close relationship with President Trump, and his firsthand experience dealing with the gas crisis that Superstorm Sandy left in its wake, I urge Governor Christie to publicly, and privately, voice his support to the President for the preservation of the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve,” Risalvato concluded.

For the full text of the testimony which is being submitted today, please click here.

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Contact: Sal Risalvato
Executive Director
732-256-9646 office
201-745-1914 cell