Energy Dept. and AAA Say Fuel is Plentiful

    WASHINGTON--Sept. 27, 2001--U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and AAA President Robert L. Darbelnet held a joint news conference today to reassure Americans that fuel supplies are plentiful and to advise motorists and gas station owners about responsible gasoline pricing and consumption during the war on terrorism.
    AAA President Darbelnet said, "In light of OPEC's decision to maintain current production levels, we believe gasoline will remain readily available and that prices will not rise. For those two reasons, there is really no reason to top off tanks, to panic buy or to accumulate reserves at home. In fact those very behaviors are not only unnecessary, but could be dangerous."
    Darbelnet added, "Sustained oil production means more affordable gasoline and less costly automobile vacation trips this Fall. And lower energy prices and more travel are sure to help revitalize the nation's economy in the months ahead."
    AAA and the Energy Department said all motorists in North America need to understand why it is important that everyone avoid the panic-buying of gasoline and resist the urge to fill nearly full gasoline tanks during moments of national crisis.
    They equated lining up needlessly for gasoline with running to a grocery store during a storm warning. This would leave many people and businesses without the fuel they need to carry on critical activities, they said.
    AAA and the Energy Department confirmed that immediately after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States motorists in various cities and small towns reacted to events by forming gas lines that threatened to drain local fuel supplies. Some gas station owners reacted by quickly posting prices of $3 or more per gallon, which added to public fears and created more gas lines.
    In general, however, AAA and the Energy Department said the nation's oil companies, distributors and gasoline station owners reacted in a responsible and restrained way to the day's harrowing events. Some stations even refused to raise prices as motorists lined up and nearly emptied gasoline station pumps.
    The AAA President and the Energy Secretary also said that in those few -- though widely reported -- instances where station-owners or small chains recklessly increased prices, state governors and attorneys general quickly stepped in to bring prices down, and have pledged to do so again if necessary.
    The federal agency and the more than 44 million member AAA said the country's war on terrorism has now increased the need to work more closely with the oil and gasoline industry to make certain the public has access to reliable and accurate information on fuel supplies and prices.
    The Energy Department and AAA also said they will increase their efforts to share and coordinate the distribution of information during national emergencies and will continue to publish regular information on fuel prices and supplies on the Internet.
    AAA's daily gas price information for the nation, each state and 250 local communities can be found on many AAA club web sites, or at www.fuelgaugereport.com, or through AAA's online NewsRoom at www.aaa.com/news.
    As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its 44 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for safety and security of all travelers.