Bill would create a Western emergency fuel reserve
Officially: Western Refined Fuel Reserve Act of 2025
The bill would set up a federal reserve of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel in one Western storage site. The Department of Energy would fill it, manage it, and use it during emergencies or supply disruptions. State and local governments in the region could also store their own fuel there.
Where it stands
Sitting in Energy and Natural Resources
No vote scheduled. Constituent contact is what moves bills out of committee.
- Creates a new federal fuel reserve for the West. It would store gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as part of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
- The reserve must use a salt-cavern storage site in one of eight Western states. Those states are Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
- The Secretary of Energy must set up the reserve within 6 months after the bill becomes law.
↓ Why your message matters here
This bill is sitting in committee with no scheduled vote — which means a small number of constituent messages can decide whether it moves forward or quietly dies.
The debate
What people are saying about this bill
- A Western fuel reserve could help keep cars, trucks, emergency vehicles, and planes running during disasters or supply breakdowns.
- Ready-to-use fuel could move faster in a crisis than crude oil. Gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel do not need extra refining before use.
- Using storage sites that already exist could cut startup costs. Public-private contracts could also help the reserve open faster than building a brand-new site.
- A new reserve could cost the federal government a lot of money. The costs could include storage, fuel purchases, and day-to-day operations.
- Putting more federal focus on gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel could deepen reliance on fossil fuels. Critics may prefer more support for cleaner energy or fuel-saving measures instead.
- One storage site could bring safety, environmental, or local disruption concerns to the nearby community. Those worries could shape the site fight even if the reserve serves a wider region.
Where this bill is in the process
Legislative timeline
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Senate Committee
Under Senate committee consideration
Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (12/9/2025)
Senate Floor Vote
Voted on by Senate
Passed Senate
Approved by Senate
House Review
Sent to House for consideration
Passed Both Chambers
Approved by both House and Senate
Signed into Law
Signed by the President
For more detail