DOE announces regional gasoline reserve

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, as a part of the Obama Administration’s response to Superstorm Sandy, announced the creation of the first federal regional refined petroleum product reserve containing gasoline. Based on the DOE’s lessons learned from the major fuel supply disruption in the aftermath of the storm, the DOE will be establishing two Northeast reserve locations near New York Harbor and in New England. Each will store 500 000 bbls of gasoline, enough to provide some short term relief in the event of future significant disruptions to supply. The new reserve complements the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve (NEHHOR), a 1 million bbl supply of diesel for the Northeast. During Superstorm Sandy, emergency withdrawals were used from NEHHOR for the first time to supply first responders and emergency generators in the region. The new announcement is said to build on the Obama Administration’s broader commitment to enable a more secure and resilient energy infrastructure.

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Secretary Moniz said: "In addition to our mitigation and international efforts, the President’s Climate Action Plan calls on us to take measures today in order to better prepare for the effects of climate change we already see occurring here at home. Building on lessons learned from recent extreme weather events like Superstorm Sandy, today we are announcing the establishment of a refined petroleum product reserve for the region surrounding New York Harbour and the Northern New England area to help ease the effects of potential future gasoline supply disruptions."

Senator Charles E. Schumer said: "The sudden, massive gas supply shortage after Superstorm Sandy resulted in interminable line, panic and delivered a gut shot to the region’s economy. That’s why we called for regionally placed reserves to ensure an uninterrupted fuel supply in the event of future storms like Sandy. The DOE, with foresight and purpose, has taken a great stride to meet that challenge today and I applaud their plan to establish a Northeast refined petroleum reserve right here in New York Harbour."

Senator Edward J. Markey said: "Like sandbags and stockpiles of food and medicine, this gasoline reserve is what the Northeast needs to be ready for supercharged storms from climate change. This gasoline reserve will ensure that just because a dangerous storm soaks our region, it doesn’t mean that consumers have to get soaked at the pump."

Adapted from a press release by Claira Lloyd.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/06052014/us_regional_gasoline_reserve_announced466/