Dumping Summer Blend Gas By 2015 May Be Unrealistic
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Before you pull into your neighborhood gas station anxious to see a dramatic drop in prices because the state is dumping summer blend RVP gasoline, there is something you should know.
The devil is in the details of that legislation passed on Wednesday.
"They want to get rid of RVP and they've done the legislation to get rid of it, but to do that they have to come up with something else," Superior Petroleum's Don Bowers says.
Specifically, that something needs to be an alternative method to make sure air quality doesn't suffer when RVP gas goes away.
Whatever the state comes up with must get Federal EPA approval before it can be implemented.
So, if you were hoping to save a little change at the gas pump thanks to Sen. Elder Vogel's legislation, Bowers says, "We're looking at at least a year and a half, if not two or three or four years before the state comes up with anything."
Gov. Tom Corbett plans to sign the bill once it hits his desk.
A member of his staff tells KDKA they believe the change won't have to wait multiple years.
What does appear clear is drivers in the seven counties of Southwestern Pennsylvania will continue to use and pay more for RVP Gas this summer and perhaps next summer as well.
Bowers says compared to the neighboring communities in adjacent states, local drivers will be paying, "anywhere from 30, 40, 50 cents a gallon more per gallon until the RVP period ends in mid-September."
RELATED LINKS:
Bill Would Eliminate More Expensive Summer Blend Of Gasoline (5/7/14)
More Reports by John Shumway
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