REFINER Act

The bill requires the Secretary of Energy to direct the National Petroleum Council to prepare a detailed report on petrochemical refineries in the United States. This must happen within 90 days after the bill becomes law. The report must examine how U.S. petrochemical refineries support the country’s energy security. It has to look at how refineries affect the steady supply of liquid fuels and feedstocks, and how they affect fuel prices for consumers. The report must include analyses and projections of current refinery capacity, chances to expand that capacity, and risks that refineries face. It must also assess any Federal or State executive actions, regulations, or policies that have caused or added to a drop in refinery capacity. Finally, the report must list recommendations for Federal agencies and for Congress on how to encourage more refinery capacity in the United States. Once done, the National Petroleum Council must submit the report to the Secretary of Energy and to Congress, and the report must be made publicly available.

Petrochemical refineries are a key part of turning crude oil into fuels and other products that people and businesses use every day. Changes in refinery capacity can affect how steady the fuel supply is and how much people pay at the pump. By requiring a focused report, the bill aims to give lawmakers and agencies more information about the current state of U.S. refineries, including risks and possible growth. The findings and recommendations could later be used to shape future laws or regulations, but this bill itself only requires study and reporting. The public release of the report may also give communities, industry, and advocacy groups more data about how government policies and other factors relate to refinery operations and capacity. How the information will be used, and what actual changes might follow, is not specified in the bill and is therefore uncertain.

• Directs the Secretary of Energy to order the National Petroleum Council to prepare a report on U.S. petrochemical refineries.
• Sets a deadline of not later than 90 days after enactment for the Secretary to issue this directive.
• Requires examination of the role of petrochemical refineries in U.S. energy security, including supply reliability and fuel affordability.
• Requires analyses and projections of current refinery capacity, opportunities to expand capacity, and risks to refineries.
• Mandates an assessment of Federal and State executive actions, regulations, or policies that have caused or contributed to declines in refinery capacity.
• Requires recommendations for Federal agencies and Congress to encourage increased refinery capacity.
• Requires the completed report to be submitted to both the Secretary of Energy and Congress and to be made publicly available.
• Has passed the House and been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

• The bill’s required assessment targets Federal and State executive actions, regulations, and policies that have reduced capacity, but it does not similarly require identifying policies that may have increased or protected capacity.
• The report must specifically include recommendations to increase refinery capacity, which may shape the kinds of options the National Petroleum Council focuses on.
• While the bill deals with petrochemical refineries and energy security, it does not direct any review of environmental or health impacts of refinery operations, except as they relate indirectly through regulations or policies affecting capacity.