← Back to Bills
H.R. 8204House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Western Refined Fuel Reserve Act of 2026

Sponsored by Celeste MaloyRep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT)
Introduced April 6, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 4:53 PM UTC

The Western Refined Fuel Reserve Act of 2026 directs the Energy Secretary to create a new storage reserve for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel in the western United States. The reserve will be built in a salt‑cavern facility and become part of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, helping to protect western states from fuel shortages and supply disruptions.

Key Provisions

  • Defines a “Refined Fuel Storage Reserve” as a salt‑cavern capable of holding gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, and defines the western states covered (AZ, CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA).
  • Requires the Secretary of Energy to identify and select one suitable storage site in those states within six months of enactment, considering proximity to distribution systems, import dependence, shortage risk, and cost.
  • Mandates filling and maintaining the reserve at at least 75% of its minimum capacity (5 million barrels of gasoline, 3 million barrels of diesel, 2 million barrels of jet fuel) over the first five fiscal years, using congressional appropriations and revenues from emergency or test sales.
  • Allows the Secretary to draw down fuel from the reserve during emergencies or supply disruptions affecting western states.
  • Calls for agreements with state and local governments to store non‑federal petroleum products in the reserve.
  • Requires an annual report to Congress, starting one year after enactment, evaluating the reserve’s operations and recommending future actions.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

April 6, 2026

View full timeline
HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 6, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

April 6, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Raw Text PDF XML
Introduced in HouseIssued April 6, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8204

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 6, 2026

Ms. Maloy introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a Western Refined Fuel Storage Reserve as part of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Western Refined Fuel Reserve Act of 2026.

2.

Western Refined Fuel Storage Reserve

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act is amended by inserting after section 163 (42 U.S.C. 6243) the following:

164.

Western Refined Fuel Storage Reserve

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Refined Fuel Storage Reserve

The term Refined Fuel Storage Reserve means a storage facility that—

(A)

is a salt cavern formation; and

(B)

is capable of storing refined petroleum products.

(2)

Refined petroleum product

The term refined petroleum product means gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.

(3)

Western State

The term Western State means the States of Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

(b)

Establishment

(1)

In general

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Western Refined Fuel Reserve Act of 2026, the Secretary shall establish a Refined Fuel Storage Reserve for the storage of refined petroleum products as part of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, pursuant to—

(A)

the authority of the Secretary under section 159(f) to address energy supply and transportation vulnerabilities in Western States, in accordance with Executive Order 14156 (90 Fed. Reg. 8433; relating to declaring a national energy emergency); and

(B)

this Act.

(2)

Requirements

(A)

Identification and selection

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(i)

identify existing or potential storage locations in Western States suitable to establish a Refined Fuel Storage Reserve, taking into account—

(I)

the proximity of existing distribution systems;

(II)

areas of the United States—

(aa)

most dependent on imported petroleum products; and

(bb)

areas of the United States most likely to experience shortages of refined petroleum products;

(III)

the capability for expeditious distribution of refined petroleum products from the Refined Fuel Storage Reserve to areas of the United States described in subclause (II); and

(IV)

the cost of establishing the Refined Fuel Storage Reserve—

(aa)

in the applicable Western State; and

(bb)

at the applicable storage location; and

(ii)

select 1 storage location.

(B)

Existing locations

In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable—

(i)

identify locations suitable for the Refined Fuel Storage Reserve in Western States; and

(ii)

enter into a contractual arrangement with a public or private entity for the use and operation of a public or private storage location.

(c)

Fill and maintenance

(1)

Requirements

During the 5 fiscal years following the date of establishment of the Refined Fuel Storage Reserve under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall, in accordance with paragraph (2), fill and maintain the Refined Fuel Storage Reserve at not less than 75 percent of the minimum capacity for each refined petroleum product on an adjusted annual basis using—

(A)

amounts appropriated by Congress for acquisition, by purchase, of petroleum products for storage in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; and

(B)

revenues from emergency or test sales carried out pursuant to section 161.

(2)

Minimum capacity

The minimum capacity of the Refined Fuel Storage Reserve is—

(A)

5,000,000 barrels of gasoline;

(B)

3,000,000 barrels of diesel; and

(C)

2,000,000 barrels of jet fuel.

(d)

Drawdown

The Secretary may withdraw refined petroleum products stored in the Refined Fuel Storage Reserve to respond to emergencies, supply disruptions, or any other circumstances consistent with the intent of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve or the needs of Western States.

(e)

State and local government storage

The Secretary shall, as the Secretary determines appropriate, pursue agreements with applicable Western State governments and local governments for storage of non-Federal petroleum products within the Refined Fuel Storage Reserve.

(f)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Western Refined Fuel Reserve Act of 2026, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the establishment and operations of the Refined Fuel Storage Reserve, which shall include—

(1)

an evaluation of—

(A)

the mechanisms used to carry out the requirements of this section; and

(B)

other potential mechanisms that could be used in the future to carry out the requirements of this section;

(2)

the process for purchase or leasing of storage facilities required for the Refined Fuel Storage Reserve, as applicable; and

(3)

recommendations for future storage of refined petroleum products in the Refined Fuel Storage Reserve, including any administrative actions and legislation necessary to implement the recommendations, as the Secretary determines appropriate.

.