As our very own Jon Popham reported, oil prices fell to a five-month low yesterday - and the Environmental Protection Agency wants to keep it that way in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.   To ensure a steady supply of gasoline, the EPA announced Monday it would “waive certain quality standards” for fuel in Texas, according to a Reuters article.

‘We recognize the environmental benefits of these fuel programs. However, to minimize or prevent problems with the supply of gasoline, I am today issuing this waiver of the RFG and RVP requirements for the covered areas in Texas that are subject to these standards,’ EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson said in a letter to the Texas Governor that was obtained by Reuters on Monday.

The waiver will be in effect for one more week, until September 10.  The article also notes that the same waiver was granted Louisiana last week. I think Jon, in his post yesterday, summed up the ambivalence over a decision like this quite well:

Obviously, everyone who drives likes cheaper gasoline prices at the pump, which will surely follow the downward trend of crude oil prices.   However, with cheaper gas, the urgency for alternative, renewable energy development will be that much less as the public tries its hardest to forget the exorbitant, record sums paid over this past summer for a mere tank of fuel.

In this instance, while no one like waiving fuel standards, the utilitarian interest may be greater in making sure people affected by the hurricane have access to fuel, at least in the short term.   However, long term, I think we ought to takepart and visit the Alternative Energy Action Network (the same network Jon linked to) to see ways we can start getting off our dependancy of fuel.