June 26, 2020
News on Enbridge Line 5
Enbridge Line 5 continues to dominate headlines out of Michigan. Enbridge Line 5 is key to providing NGLs to the propane fractionator in Sarnia, Canada.  Enbridge is in the process of constructing The Great Lakes Tunnel project which will move a section of the already safe Line 5 pipeline currently located along the lakebed, and will make it even safer by burying it deep under the lakebed in a state-of-the-art concrete tunnel.  
 
Earlier this week, Ingham County Circuit Court Judge, James Jamo,  granted Michigan’s Attorney General,  Dana  Nessel’s, motion for a temporary restraining  order  requiring Enbridge Energy to cease all transport operations of its Line 5, twin pipelines which carry crude oil and liquid natural gas in the Straits of Mackinac, and disclose information in its possession related to the recent damage caused to the pipeline’s eastern segment. That ruling occurred as a result of reports stemming from annual inspections performed on Line 5 by Enbridge.  
 
Late last week, inspections found a single anchor out of place on the east leg of the dual lines in the straits. However, there was no evidence of pipeline issues, but both lines were shutdown temporarily.  The west leg resumed deliveries  on Saturday afternoon following a similar inspection that determined the pipeline was unaffected by whatever may have caused an anchor on the east leg to become bent. PHMSA signaled concurrence with the west leg operations restart.  
 
Because of Judge Jamo’s temporary restraining order, both  lines are to remain closed until the hearing on the Attorney General’s motion for preliminary injunction is held this  Tuesday, June 30. 
 
Clearly, this is a disturbing chain of events that will impact energy supplies in Michigan, Indiana and the entire region. Enbridge is attempting to complete an NGL delivery ahead of the scheduled shut down to ensure a stable propane market.
IPGA Board Meeting: July 28
IPGA is hosting a board meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 11:30am-2:30pm at The Bridgewater Club in Carmel, IN. Members are welcome to attend if interested.
If you will be attending as a non-board member, registration is required. Click here to register.
IPGA Holiday Hours
In observance of the Independence Day Holiday, the IPGA office will be closes on Friday, July 3rd. We will resume our normal business hours Monday, July 6th at 8:30 am. 
 
From all of us here at the IPGA, we hope you have a safe and holiday with family and friends. Celebrate our country’s freedoms!
Propane Added to House Highway Package Clean Corridor Provisions
On June 17, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a markup of the nearly $500 billion Surface Transportation bill,  H.R. 2, the "Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act." During the markup, the Committee passed an  amendment  offered by  Representative Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) ,  making propane and natural gas eligible for grant funding opportunities for refueling infrastructure under the Clean Corridors Program as a part of the INVEST in America Act. Despite opposition from Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), the amendment was approved by a healthy bipartisan margin, 37 yeas to 26 nays. While the Committee did not allow amendment cosponsors due to a procedural change, NPGA champion  Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL)  spoke in support of the amendment and the addition of propane and natural gas to the program. Representatives Brian Babin (R-TX) and Randy Weber (R-TX) also discussed the importance of the amendment ahead of the vote.
 
The Clean Corridors Program is an expansion of the existing Alternative Fuels Corridor Program which provides grant funding opportunities for the installation of refueling infrastructure along designated interstate highway system corridors. While the Alternative Fuels Corridor Program includes four alternative fuel types – EVs, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas – the Democratic Clean Corridors Program carved out propane and natural gas from the proposed grant funding opportunities. Last year, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works added natural gas to the program's surface transportation package but left propane out. Representative Fletcher's successfully adopted amendment to the House package provides a vital foothold for NPGA to secure propane's inclusion in final legislation in both the House and Senate.

The Fletcher Amendment is the culmination of more than a year of lobbying efforts by NPGA and its member companies. Indiana Congressmen Andre Carson (IN-7) and Greg Pence (IN-6) voted in favor of the amendment.  
Once the T&I Committee markup concludes, the full House will consider the INVEST in America Act in the coming weeks. Political experts expect the House and Senate to negotiate a final transportation package in a conference committee later this year.

If you have any questions about thanking our supporters or the Corridors program, please contact NPGA's Director of Legislative Affairs,  Michael Baker .
2020 Employee Training
IPGA offers CETP and non-certified employee training for those employed in the propane industry or looking to obtain propane training certification. To make training more accessible to everyone, classes are held in multiple locations. Classes are open to members and non-members and pre-registration is necessary. For the most current information, click here .
President's Council Members