Senators Susan Collins (R‑ME) and Angus King (I‑ME), who represent the state most dependent on home heating oil, sent a letter to President Donald Trump this week requesting that the administration release fuel from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. The senators say the move would help lower the steep rise in diesel and heating‑oil prices that are straining Mainers’ family budgets.
Why the request matters for Mainers
According to a recent Maine Department of Energy Resources survey, the average household now pays about $675 more to fill a heating‑oil tank than it did last year. Diesel, a close substitute for heating oil, has surged past $6.50 per gallon – a record level driven in part by disruptions in Iran and Ukraine.
Collins told Reuters that “the cost of energy is a huge issue in my state” and that tapping the reserve “would help put downward pressure on prices.” King echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need to protect families from what he called a “difficult financial burden.”
What the reserve is and its history
The Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve stores roughly one million barrels of diesel across four sites from Maine to New Jersey. Created in 2000 under former President Bill Clinton, the reserve holds about ten days of regional heating fuel and has not been accessed since 2012, when it supported emergency responders after Hurricane Sandy.
President Trump’s 2025 budget proposal called for shutting the reserve, arguing that maintaining the stockpile is costly and unnecessary. The administration’s stance reflects a broader effort to reduce wasteful spending while still ensuring energy security.
Administration response
The White House has not yet commented on the senators’ letter. However, the administration did deny a recent report that it was preparing a 90‑day ban on diesel exports, underscoring its commitment to keeping fuel supplies flowing for American consumers.
Political context
Collins, who is facing a competitive race in the upcoming November midterms, highlighted the issue as a key concern for her constituents. King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, joined the appeal, showing bipartisan recognition of the hardship caused by soaring fuel costs.
Both senators also urged the release of home‑heating program funds to assist low‑income families, joining Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island in that request.
What’s next?
The request puts pressure on the Trump administration to balance fiscal prudence with immediate relief for families. If the reserve is tapped, it could provide short‑term price relief while the administration continues to explore longer‑term energy‑policy solutions.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
