Jet fuel for Las Vegas affected

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001 | 11:28 a.m.

California's energy crisis is threatening to cut into the lifeblood of Southern Nevada's tourism industry.

Rolling blackouts in California left the main pipeline that pumps jet fuel to McCarran International Airport and Nellis Air Force Base without electricity for much of Wednesday, Clark County Aviation Director Randy Walker told the Sun today.

As of this morning, Walker said, the 8-inch pipeline, which pumps 23,000 barrels of jet fuel a day to the airline companies at McCarran, was still shut down.

"At this point, it's not a crisis, but it's a concern," Walker said.

The airport director said McCarran has more than six days, about 112,000 barrels of fuel in reserve.

He said a crisis could develop if those reserves are cut in half.

McCarran, he said, needs at least three days of extra fuel on hand in case of an emergency.

About half of the 36 million visitors who came to Las Vegas last year arrived through McCarran, according to Rob Powers, spokesman for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

"Obviously anything that could potentially disrupt air service in and out Las Vegas could have a major impact on our convention and tourism industry," he said.

The LVCVA, empowered to attract tourists to Las Vegas, is closely monitoring events in California, Powers said.

Walker said he was informed Wednesday by the pipeline company that the pumps had been shut down.

"The bottom line is that it's a supply issue," Walker said. "There are always options, and obviously all of the options will be reviewed if this becomes a problem."

One option, Walker said, is to truck the gasoline from Southern California, which would be more costly.

He said he was hopeful that concerns about the pipeline would ease this afternoon.

"We're trying to work with the pipeline company and be pro-active so this doesn't become a problem," he said.