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Isaac's Potential Impact to Western Colorado

by KREX News Room
by Jordan Sherman

Story Created: Aug 27, 2012 at 5:04 PM MDT

Story Updated: Aug 27, 2012 at 6:43 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- One local economist says Tropical Storm Isaac, which could become a hurricane, could potentially have a profound impact on the Western Slope.

As Tropical Storm Isaac continues to brew in the Gulf of Mexico, numerous oil rigs and refineries are closing up shop.

As the oil stops flowing for some rigs in the Gulf, the price of gas has already starting to rise in those coastal areas.

Dr. Morgan Bridge, an economist and department head at Colorado Mesa University, says this could create a ripple effect in gas prices that could possibly be seen in Western Colorado.

However, according to Bridge, the impact of the tropical storm on the Grand Valley will be entirely dependent on how long the rigs are shut down.

"If there's less supply, the price is going to rise," said Bridge.

However, it's the potential for long-term impacts that has Bridge concerned.

"We could start to see the impact not only in the Gulf of Mexico, but even further west as we have a more difficult time making sure we have enough of that resource to go around once the winter months approach," Bridge said.

Bridge is concerned that if the rigs are shut down for more than a couple days, the refineries could have a hard time catching up to their typical production.

Bridge says we won't know for sure what the impact will be until the storm hits.

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OldSailor said on Tuesday, Aug 28 at 2:56 PM

Any excuse what so ever for big oil to plunder and pillage the public.

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