U.S. to Store Gasoline for Crises in the Northeast

The federal government will build its first gasoline storage reserves in the New York Harbor area and in New England in response to the shortages suffered after Hurricane Sandy, the secretary of energy, Ernest J. Moniz, announced on Friday.

Together, the reserves will hold about a million barrels of gasoline and cost about $215 million.  The fuel is intended to be held back in case another disaster cripples regional fuel supplies.

Energy Department officials envision the reserves as the first in a series that will be built in parts of the country vulnerable to extreme weather, believed to be caused by global warming.

"In addition to our mitigation and international efforts, the president's Climate Action Plan calls on us to take measures today in order to better prepare for the effects of climate change we already see occurring here at home," Mr. Moniz said in a statement.

Fuel shortages were one of the most widespread problems after Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.  Two New York-area fuel refineries were shut down, and hundreds of gas stations lost power, leading to severe gasoline shortages.

U.S. to Store Gasoline for Crises in the Northeast