Maine Senators Urge Trump to Release Heating Oil Reserves

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King have called on Donald Trump to release supplies from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to mitigate record-high energy costs. The request follows reports from the Maine Department of Energy Resources showing statewide heating oil prices have surged 74% compared to last year, adding approximately $675 to the cost of filling a standard tank. The senators argued that the same urgency the president applied to an earlier release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve should now be applied to the heating oil reserve as winter temperatures drop.

The price spike is driven by a global fuel supply crunch. Factors include the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, threats from Houthi militants against tankers, and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, which have constrained roughly 7 million barrels of daily refining capacity. In New York, retail prices recently hit $6.14 per gallon, a 66% year-over-year increase. Experts estimate a typical oil-dependent household could pay $2,500 for heating this winter, potentially exhausting energy assistance grants before a single minimum delivery is completed.

While Senator Collins also partnered with Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island to request home heating program funds for low-income households, the administration has shown hesitation regarding the reserve. President Trump previously proposed closing the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve due to maintenance costs, and the facility has not been used since 2012. Additionally, the White House denied reports that it is preparing a 90-day ban on diesel exports despite domestic prices exceeding $6.50 a gallon.