Tim Tarpley, EWTC President
(WO) — The Energy Workforce & Technology Council is urging U.S. policymakers to reject a proposed ban on diesel exports, arguing that the measure could force Gulf Coast refineries to reduce production without providing lasting relief from high fuel prices.
Energy Workforce President Tim Tarpley said transportation constraints prevent surplus Gulf Coast diesel from simply being redirected to U.S. regions experiencing tighter supplies. Exports provide an outlet for refinery production that cannot readily reach those domestic markets, the organization said.
“A diesel export ban would strand fuel on the Gulf Coast, where it can’t simply be shipped to every market that needs it,” Tarpley said. “If the restriction causes refineries to cut production, we risk making a supply problem worse.”
Instead, Tarpley called on the administration to consider temporarily suspending tariffs on imports of critical energy components, which he said could have a more immediate effect on fuel prices than restricting diesel exports. Energy Workforce has previously advocated against additional tariffs on critical equipment used in U.S. energy production.
The group warned that reduced refinery runs could affect not only diesel supplies but other fuels produced by Gulf Coast refiners.
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