New York: Governor Pataki calls for federal action to avert heating oil shortage

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New York: Governor Pataki calls for federal action to avert heating oil shortage

By Associated Press, 9/13/2000 12:09

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Gov. George Pataki on Wednesday renewed his call for the Clinton administration to release supplies from the national Strategic Petroleum Reserve to stabilize heating oil prices and avoid supply shortage.

Pataki said with prices at a 10-year high and reports that inventory levels of heating oil are ''well below normal,'' the federal government should promptly take steps to avert a potential heating oil crisis in New York this winter.

''A repeat of last winter's price spikes and supply shortages is unacceptable,'' Pataki said. ''We need immediate action so homeowners in New York and other Northeast states are not hammered with massive costs or shortfalls this winter.''

The federal government plans to establish a heating oil reserve for the Northeast, but Pataki said the amount proposed for the reserve may be ''inadequate.''

Pataki also urged the White House to provide details of its response to the heating oil issue before Sept. 21, when the House Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing on petroleum prices. http://www.boston.com/dailynews/257/region/Pataki_calls_for_federal_actio:.shtml

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), September 13, 2000


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