L.I. Lawmakers Plan to Fix Future Fuel Shortages

By CONOR FEBOS

Nassau and Suffolk County’s top legislators proposed an island-wide law Tuesday that would require gas stations to have “transfer switches” to pump fuel and avoid gas shortages following extended emergencies like Hurricane Sandy.

The law, which if passed will enforce all gas stations on Long Island to have alternative power sources in the form of generators, came in response to the outcry over long gas lines during Sandy’s aftermath.

“Many stations had gas in the ground, but no means to pump it,” said Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg in a press conference at a Hess station in Hicksville. “This law hopes to solve that problem in the future, by having other means to pump gas.”

Modeled after a similar law in Florida that requires stations to supply manually operated pumps in the event of significant power loss from natural disasters, Long Island’s version would implement switches that will enable stations to maintain business despite potential power outage.

“What was so frustrating was that many stations had fuel underneath them but with no ability to pump it,” said Suffolk County Legislator Steve Stern. “If stations were provided with the ability to utilize generator-sourced power during an outage, these kind of situations would be much easier to deal with.”

But others, like executive director of the Long Island Gasoline Retailers Association Michael Watt, expressed concern over who would pay for the generator as he contends that local gas stations struggle with fee increases and other economic woes.

“It’s not a matter of just going to a Lowes and buying a generator,” said Watt. “You have to buy, maintain, insure and inevitably pay a registration or inspection fee.”

Secretary of the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency Board, Steve Rossetti, said he would introduce a proposal to create a specific sales tax exemption for the requirement. Denenberg also said he wanted to minimize any financial burdens by pursuing Federal and State grants and FEMA funds to help pay for the upgrades.

“So much money was spent to try to alleviate the shortage and bring supplies in,” said Denenberg. “The money is better spent to prevent a shortage, prevent stations being out of business for days, and prevent people already suffering from power outages to also suffer a gas shortage and long lines at the few pumps open.”

A public hearing for the bill was set for Nov. 20.