Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Presidential Approval to Release Oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve would have most Immediate Impact at the Pump

August 1, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) is urging President Bush to bring immediate relief at the gas pump. Feingold joined 35 other Senators in sending a letter to the President, authored by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), calling on the President to use his emergency authority to immediately release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

Gas pump, Petrolia, California: Photo by gerry la Photo by gerry la londe-berg (CC)-berg (CC)    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement following news that President Bush has signed legislation to temporarily suspend the filling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve through the end of the year, as long as the price of crude oil remains above $75 per barrel.

A technician works on a Strategic Petroleum Reserve wellhead.: DOE photo

Current shipments to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is now 97 percent full, will end on June 30.    » read more »

By Suspending Deposits into the Nearly-Full Strategic Petroleum Reserve, More Oil Will Be Available in the Marketplace to Help Bring Down Gas Prices

May 13, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed a measure co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) that will help lower gas prices that have reached all-time highs.

California gas prices: Photo by Brian Locicero (CC)

The Senate passed a Feingold-backed initiative to suspend the filling of the strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) that was originally created to provide relief when oil and gasoline supply shortages caused economic hardships.    » read more »

May 13, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement after the Senate passed an amendment to the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007 (S.2284) to suspend filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Senator Obama is a co-sponsor of this provision, which passed by a vote of 97 to 1.    » read more »

Senate votes to block measure to drill in ANWR and off California’s Coast; Halt shipments to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

May 13, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) voted on two key energy votes in the Senate today. The measures were introduced as amendments to the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act, which was approved by the Senate today.

* Senator Feinstein voted against opening up ANWR and drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California. The amendment, which was offered by Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), failed by a vote of 42-56.    » read more »

May 13, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement following House passage of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act by a vote of 385 to 25. The bill temporarily suspends the filling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) through the end of the year, as long as the price of crude oil remains above $75 per barrel.

Oil pipes at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve: DOE photo    » read more »

May 13, 2008 -- With the average price for a gallon of gas in Connecticut climbing to $3.95, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today urged the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a measure that would suspend oil deliveries to the country's Strategic Petroleum Reserve until crude prices fall below $75 a barrel.

A technician at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve inspects crude oil transfer pipe: Photo courtesy DOE

The proposal to halt shipments to the emergency oil reserve cleared the Senate in a 97 to 1 vote and is expected to receive bipartisan support in the House.    » read more »