Sponsors (2)
The bill aims to inform actions that could lower fuel costs and bolster U.S. energy security through better data on refineries, but it risks promoting deregulation and costly federal supports that could weaken environmental protections and raise taxpayer spending.
Consumers (taxpayers) could see lower liquid fuel prices if the report prompts policies to increase domestic refinery capacity.
American energy security could improve because the report identifies how refineries contribute to supply reliability and can inform steps to reduce dependence on foreign fuel.
Energy companies, regulators, and local communities gain transparency from a public report detailing refinery risks, capacity trends, and policy impacts.
Rural communities and the environment could be harmed if the report’s mandate to assess policies that 'caused' declines biases recommendations toward deregulation and weaker environmental protections.
Taxpayers could face higher federal costs if the report leads to recommendations for subsidies or incentives to expand refinery capacity.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires DOE to direct the National Petroleum Council to produce a public report on U.S. petrochemical refinery capacity, risks, policy causes of decline, and recommendations within 90 days.
Requires the Secretary of Energy to direct the National Petroleum Council to produce and deliver to the Secretary and Congress a public report, within 90 days of enactment, analyzing the role, capacity, risks, and trends affecting U.S. petrochemical refineries and recommending federal actions to encourage increased U.S. refinery capacity. The report must examine contributions to energy security, supply reliability, fuel affordability, causes of capacity decline (including federal or state policies), and opportunities to expand capacity.
Official title: Researching Efficient Federal Improvements for Necessary Energy Refining Act
Introduced April 30, 2025 by Robert E. Latta · Last progress December 1, 2025