Currently, most of the nation's emergency oil is stored as crude oil in the Gulf Coast. If a disaster hits the West Coast or the Rocky Mountains, it takes a long time to transport that oil and then refine it into usable gasoline. This bill creates a 'ready-to-use' safety net located right in the region that needs it, which could prevent the massive gas price spikes often seen after refinery fires or pipeline issues in the West.

As the energy market changes and some regions become more isolated from national pipelines, having local reserves becomes a matter of regional economic security. If this becomes law, Western states gain a buffer against fuel shortages; if it doesn't, these states remain dependent on just-in-time deliveries and a vulnerable supply chain that has little room for error.