Senators from both parties ask Trump to release emergency heating oil as prices surge

Two US senators from Maine, Susan Collins and Angus King, have urged President Donald Trump to release emergency heating oil reserves to address soaring fuel prices that are causing financial hardship for residents. In a letter to the President, the senators wrote that their constituents are paying about $675 more to fill a heating oil tank than they did last year, according to a Maine Department of Energy Resources survey.

Diesel prices have surged to a record over $6.50 a gallon due to reduced production and shipping disruptions caused by conflicts in Iran and Ukraine. The emergency reserve, established in 2000, contains roughly 10 days worth of heating oil for the Northeast region and had not been utilized since 2012. Collins, who is up for re-election in November, highlighted the energy crisis as a significant issue in Maine and stated that tapping the reserve could help alleviate the financial burden on households. The White House has not yet responded to inquiries about the senators' request.