Business & Tech

Tropical Storm Isaac May Cause Spike in Evanston Gas Prices

AAA officials have said that Tropical Storm Isaac -- soon expected to become Hurricane Isaac -- may cause gas prices to rise around the nation as oil refineries in Louisiana and Florida are taken offline.

As tropical storm Isaac intensifies and threatens the Gulf Coast with significant storm surge and hurricane force winds, oil companies with refineries in Louisiana have started to evacuate employees and shut down operations.

The result will likely mean higher gasoline prices for Evanston drivers.

AAA is reporting that drivers across the country will likely experience higher prices at the pump as a result of the tropical storm heading toward the Gulf Coast.

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Roughly 1.3 billion barrels a day or 8 percent of the country’s refining capacity was taken offline in preparation for Isaac making landfall in Louisiana, according to the Wall Street Journal. That means prices could rise another 10 cents in the coming week, CNN Money reports. 

Nationwide, the average price of gasoline on Monday was $3.75 a gallon, according to AAA. Closer to home, the agency said the average gallon of gas in Illinois was $3.988. 

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Four stations had the cheapest gas in Evanston as of Tuesday morning, according to Gas Buddy. The Marathon at Howard and Chicago, the Shell at Ridge and Howard, the Citgo at Dempster and Fowler and the Mobil at Chicago and Howard were all selling gas for $4.25 per gallon. The highest price listed was at the Valero at Asbury and Oakton, where gas was $4.63 per gallon.


 


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