Gas pipeline fueling Nevada back in operation

Contrary to some reports, the pipeline that brings gasoline and other petroleum products over the Sierra from California to Reno is back in full service.

Melissa Ruiz, a spokesman for Kinder Morgan, the company that operates the pipeline for different producers, said the line was shut down intermittently over the past couple of weeks because Pacific Gas and Electric cut off power to the line due the high winds and extreme fire danger in the Sacramento area.

But she said full service was restored Wednesday evening and the company doesn’t expect another shutdown in the near future.

“The forecasts are for sunny skies,” she said.

The pipeline runs from Rocklin near Sacramento to the Sparks storage terminal just east of the Nugget hotel casino.

Ruiz said the shut down was entirely due to PG&E cutting off power but that Kinder Morgan was able to pump some fuel up the hill intermittently using its own generators.

Even when the pipeline is shut down for short periods, Ruiz said the Sparks terminal has enough storage to ensure gasoline is still available. The terminal operated by Flyers Energy of Auburn, California, has 45 tanks with a total storage capacity of 748,377 barrels of different refined petroleum products including diesel and jet fuel as well as gasoline.

The pipeline continues on from Sparks to Fallon and supplies jet fuel to the Naval Air Station there.