Generator firm urges Massachusetts to plan for fuel access during emergencies
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Summary
An emergency-backup generator company owner told the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy that fuel availability during disasters is a major obstacle and urged the legislature to consider laws supporting backup power access along evacuation routes and at critical sites.
Michael Mollway, owner of FM Generator Incorporated in Canton, testified that during disasters (9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy) a recurring problem has been access to diesel and gasoline at sites that need to operate backup generators.
"One of the biggest obstacles I've seen during these crises is the availability to get fuel, diesel fuel, gasoline, so that we can navigate and power up buildings and whatever needs to be powered," Mollway said, describing efforts to bring hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel to disaster zones where on-site supplies could not be accessed because there was no electrical power to operate pumps.
Mollway said New York and Florida adopted laws after major disasters to support backup needs for evacuation routes and critical locations and suggested Massachusetts consider similar measures to ensure fuel availability for life-safety equipment and evacuation support. He said his company has served as a second responder to major national disasters and suggested targeted policy changes to enable access to on-site fuel storage and distribution during emergencies.
Committee members thanked Mollway for his testimony and noted the issue's relevance to emergency planning; no committee action occurred during the hearing.