Securing Our Propane Supply Act

This bill tells the U.S. Department of Energy to study whether a national propane reserve would help keep homes, farms, and bases supplied during shortages and price spikes. The study must look at today’s propane supply chain, the risks of regional outages, where storage sites could go, how much to store, what infrastructure is needed, and when to release fuel in an emergency. It also covers how to buy and store propane without upsetting the market, who would likely use it (including households, farmers, and the Armed Forces), and possible alternatives that might work just as well. The study must end with clear recommendations on whether to create a reserve and, if so, the best way to set it up .

The Energy Department has 180 days after the bill becomes law to finish the study, and then another 180 days to write a plan to carry out its recommendations. The department is encouraged to work with propane industry groups, must report the study and plan to Congress, and must protect any sensitive national security information before sharing it publicly .

Key points

• Who is affected: Households that heat or cook with propane, farmers, the Armed Forces, propane producers and distributors, and the Department of Energy .
• What changes: A federal study on creating a national propane reserve, including locations, storage amounts, release triggers, market impacts, and alternatives; followed by a plan based on the study’s recommendations .
• When: Study due 180 days after enactment; plan due 180 days after the study; report to Congress after both are complete .