Biden to Release 1 Million Barrels of Gasoline From Northeast Reserve to Lower Summer Gas Prices

The Biden regime announced Tuesday that it is releasing 1 million barrels of gasoline from a Northeast reserve to lower gas prices during the summer travel season.

The Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve (NGSR) was established after Superstorm Sandy to provide consumers with “supplemental supplies for a few days in the event of a hurricane or other disruption, until existing distribution infrastructure could return to full operation.”

The entire reserve was required to be sold and closed in fiscal 2024, according to H.R.4366, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which passed in Congress back in March.

The gasoline will be “allocated in increments of 100,000 barrels at a time” from storage sites in New Jersey and Maine, the Associated Press reported.

The Department of Energy said in a statement that the move is intended to help “lower costs for American families and consumers.″

The average gas price ($3.60 per gallon) is up 6 cents from a year ago, according to AAA.

“Tapping gasoline reserves is one of the few actions a president can take by himself to try to control inflation, an election year liability for the party in control of the White House,” the AP noted.

“The Biden-Harris administration is laser-focused on lowering prices at the pump for American families, especially as drivers hit the road for summer driving season,″ Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in the statement. “By strategically releasing this reserve in between Memorial Day and July 4th, we are ensuring sufficient supply flows to the tri-state (area) and Northeast at a time hardworking Americans need it the most.”

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the move is a continuation of actions Joe Biden has made “to lower gas and energy costs — including historic releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the largest-ever investment in clean energy.″

The last time Biden significantly drained an oil reserve was in 2022—ahead of the midterm elections—when he reportedly dropped the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to its lowest level since the 1980s.

The election year move helped stabilize gasoline prices that had been rising in the wake of the war in Europe but drew complaints from Republicans that the Democratic president was playing politics with a reserve meant for national emergencies.

The Biden administration has since begun refilling the oil reserve, which had more than 364 million barrels of crude oil as of last month. The total is lower than levels before the Russia-Ukraine war but still the world’s largest emergency crude oil supply.

The Department of Energy said NGSR fuel is slated to be transferred or delivered no later than June 30.

“While congressional Republicans fight to preserve tax breaks for Big Oil at the expense of hardworking families, President Biden is advancing a more secure, affordable, and clean energy future to lower utility bills while record American energy production helps meet our immediate needs,” Jean-Pierre said.

Former President Donald Trump responded to the news on Truth Social with one word: “DISGUSTING!”