As winter settles in across the Northeast, the U.S. Coast Guard has launched Operation Reliable Energy for Northeast Winters (RENEW) 2026, its annual mission aimed at keeping heating oil flowing to more than 33 million residents during the region’s coldest months.

Now in its second decade, Operation RENEW reflects a hard reality: the Northeast accounts for roughly 85 percent of the nation’s heating oil consumption, with about 90 percent of that fuel moving through waterways maintained by the Coast Guard. When ice builds up on rivers, bays, and harbors, the region’s energy security depends on the service’s ability to keep those routes open.

“Operation RENEW 2026 is about keeping Northeast communities safe during the toughest winter months,” said Rear Adm. Michael E. Platt, commander of the Coast Guard’s Northeast District. “Our crews, cutters, and aircraft are ready to respond so heating fuel, food, and medical supplies can continue moving even when ice threatens navigation.”

This year’s operation comes as several Coast Guard assets remain in maintenance or upgrade cycles, forcing commanders to concentrate icebreaking and response capabilities where they are needed most. The Coast Guard has designated maintaining heating oil deliveries as its top winter priority.

The region’s dependence on oil heat is supported by a fragile supply chain. Most heating oil is refined along the Gulf Coast and shipped more than 5,000 miles north through the Colonial Pipeline to terminals in New Jersey and New York Harbor. From there, a limited number of U.S.-flagged tankers operating under the Jones Act move fuel into New England.

When pipeline flows or domestic coastal shipping fall short, the Northeast is often forced to rely on imports from Canada or even Europe, leaving the region exposed to winter weather, shipping constraints, and volatility in global diesel markets.

First launched during the 2014–15 winter season, Operation RENEW has become a fixture of the Coast Guard’s cold-weather operations. As the 2026 mission unfolds, the service says it will continue adjusting its posture to ensure the Northeast’s maritime energy lifeline remains open when it matters most.