New REFINER Act Mandates Public Report on U.S. Refinery Capacity and Energy Security Within 90 Days

The Researching Efficient Federal Improvements for Necessary Energy Refining Act, or the REFINER Act, isn’t changing any laws or regulations right now, but it is kicking off a major, mandated study. This bill requires the Secretary of Energy to immediately commission a detailed report on the state of U.S. petrochemical refineries. The goal is to get a clear picture of how these facilities—which turn crude oil into things like gasoline, diesel, and plastics—affect national energy security, consumer costs, and future supply.

The 90-Day Clock and the Industry Report Card

Under Section 2, the Department of Energy has just 90 days to tell the National Petroleum Council (NPC) to get to work. The NPC is an advisory body made up largely of industry executives, so they know the refinery business inside and out. Their report must cover a few key areas: how reliable our liquid fuel supply is, what’s driving consumer fuel prices, and where we could potentially build more refining capacity. They also have to specifically look at whether federal or state policies—like environmental regulations or executive orders—have caused existing refinery capacity to shrink. Once the report is done, it goes straight to Congress and the public, which is a good thing for transparency.

Who’s Reading the Fine Print?

For regular folks, this report is important because it connects the dots between energy policy and your wallet. If the report finds that tight capacity is driving up the cost of gas at the pump—or the cost of materials for manufacturing—that directly impacts your budget. For example, if you’re a truck driver relying on diesel or a small business owner using petrochemical feedstocks, this analysis should provide data on why your costs are what they are. The bill is essentially forcing a public audit of our domestic fuel supply chain.

The Conflict of Interest Question

Here’s where the policy meets the road: The NPC, which is tasked with writing this analysis, is also required to offer specific recommendations to Congress on how to “encourage these refineries to increase their capacity.” Since the NPC is composed of industry leaders, there’s a high potential for conflict of interest. While they have the expertise, the recommendations they make—which could range from tax breaks to regulatory rollbacks—will naturally favor the industry’s interests. This means Congress will receive a comprehensive analysis, but it will be filtered through the lens of those who stand to gain the most from capacity expansion. It’s a bit like asking the students to grade their own homework, but at least the results will be public, allowing other analysts to scrutinize the findings and the resulting policy suggestions.