Chris Perry Column: It’s A Festivus Miracle.

Christmas wishes do come true…

It was roughly two months ago that I penned my annual Christmas column, and on behalf of the Nantucket community, I sent Santa eight Christmas wishes hoping he would heed our call.

Unfortunately, I am not optimistic that Sankaty Head Golf Club will reverse course and allow the Nantucket community access to winter memberships or if The Downyflake will be able to secure a suitable location to support their business plan. But in the Christmas spirit, Todd Boling, Dave Fredericks, and Island Energy Services have come through.

Their present didn’t come in a box.

You won’t see it in your stocking.

However, the next time you fill up your gas tank, you might find it in your wallet.

For the first time since the days of the Covid shutdown, Mid-Island Gas posted unleaded regular gas prices at less than $4 per gallon last week.

I suspect many of you did not notice this “gift” as the community has been preoccupied with ice breakers from Maine and the freezing cold temps. Nevertheless, this is a tremendous psychological present for the island that, financially, bodes well for the community moving forward.

“Our overarching goal is to have the products that our customers need at the most competitive price we can offer," said Island Energy Service’s chief executive officer, Todd Boling, who has seen plenty of wild fluctuations in gas prices over the years.

“These are incredibly challenging times in the global market. Especially over the last six months, market pricing has been very volatile impacted by far more than just supply and demand which used to be the driving force. Today, political influences, international uncertainties, weather all impact the market and eventually Nantucket pricing," offered Boling.

Island Energy Services, which provides gas, oil, diesel, and propane, among other products, has a unique presence on Nantucket. Employing roughly 100 people, its biggest challenge is bulk storage.

While Island Energy Services was very excited to post gas prices below $4 per gallon, Boling was quick to add, “Right now, our priority is heating fuel. It is critical that we warehouse a supply that satisfies the present demand, especially with these bitterly cold temperatures”.

“A guy selling gas in Hyannis does not have to deal with bulk storage. It’s not like we can simply call our distributor in the morning and get a delivery in the afternoon. Every single day, we evaluate our supply and bulk storage - try to anticipate the local market - and adjust accordingly. Thankfully, we have great partners in J.P. Noonan and the Steamship Authority as I believe it is the most logical approach to a unique problem”, said Boling

Boling went on to describe a situation last week when the international market price for unleaded gas jumped by 11 cents in the morning.

“This was completely unexpected," said Boling, who avoided a knee-jerk reaction of bumping island gas prices noticeably higher than $4 per gallon by opting to follow a more level-headed approach.

“Frankly, it is not beneficial for us to have high prices, as you have to look at things more globally instead of just for an instant," he said. "Prices are fluctuating wildly right now. Today, they are up. Tomorrow, they could be down. Our goal is to have that inventory available for our customers.”

“Huge energy companies like Shell refine the product and distribute it to the terminals. When our representatives go to the terminals to pick up the fuel, it is not as if he is rolling down the driver’s side window to negotiate the price per gallon. It’s take it of leave it and we must be prepared to pay for those international uncertainties every time we load up," Boling added.

For several months, unleaded gas prices on Nantucket have trickled downward even though island Energy Service faces several state roadblocks as well as the obvious unique island hurdles. With the national average at approximately $2.92 a gallon for regular gas, Massachusetts has limped along well above the national average at roughly $3.10 / gallon.

But misery loves company…

In addition to Massachusetts, several other states in the northeast such as Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Vermont and New York have also bucked the national trend with gas prices well above the national average by tethering themselves to unrealistic energy programs. This stubbornness has muted the potential for more savings through lower gas prices for the consumer. However, with the present administration in Washington taking a far more aggressive stance towards energy independence, Massachusetts can’t avoid riding their coattails much longer as the rest of the United States benefits from lower energy costs. For Nantucket, that would translates into real savings through lower gas prices.

As Congressman Jeff Duncan from South Carolina once said, “Any drop in gas prices is essentially a tax break for consumers…”

Despite Island Energy Service’s best efforts to stay below $4 per gallon, unleaded gas prices have ping-ponged up and down recently. However, that did not stop me from asking Boling if he thought gas prices for regular unleaded would be consistently below $4 per gallon this summer.

“We have no control over market pricing so it would be impossible for me to make any predictions about the future. I can tell you what the price will be for the next 24 hours; but after that, it’s anyone’s guess," he professed.

While Boling did not want to predict the future, I sensed an unspoken hint of optimism in his voice. Since my tank is always half full, I am bullish about summer gas prices for regular unleaded holding below $4 per gallon, which will positively impact the entire Nantucket community. In fact, the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts gas prices to fall 6 percent in 2026 and 2 percent in 2027. Assuming that’s the case and gas prices stabilize under $4 per gallon on Nantucket, it should bring a smile to every business owner, electrician, landscaper, painter, restaurant owner, charter fishing boat captain and delivery service company owned and operated on Nantucket.

Even Gary Roberts, the N.R.T.A.’s administrator, who will have nine gas-fueled buses running this summer, was quick to point out, “Any drop in gas prices, no matter how small, will have a significant, positive impact on our budget…”

There is no need to panic. With plenty of time to go before Santa returns in December, I know he is listening. In fact, Island Energy Service is not alone. Just last week, Melania Smith, USPS Recruitment & Retention Liaison, announced that at least one of the local postal clerk positions was filled via their Christmas Stroll outreach program, hopefully alleviating some of the delivery delays at the Post Office.

It would be great to have “The Barnacle” back on Main Street this summer, and Nantucket picklers would love to see the Land Bank build the new pickleball courts promised to them years ago. But as we wait patiently for Santa’s next move, let’s give Island Energy Services their due understanding the critical nature of affordable gas prices on Nantucket fueling the island’s engines.

As Edward Abbey once said, “Our culture (Nantucket) runs on coffee and gasoline, the first often tasting like the second…”