Advocacy News – Aug. 24, 2022
As economic conditions and global instability continue their inflationary impact on energy prices, efforts to ensure the U.S. has the pipeline infrastructure necessary to meet the country’s needs have re-ignited and never been more important.
With the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, many energy advocates are calling for additional provisions to ease oil and gas permitting reform. Last week, the White House, alongside Democratic leaders, announced a plan that would help streamline permitting. West Virginia U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin says he believes there is an agreement for reform legislation to move before the end of the year, even though some voice skepticism.
In Michigan, discussions around pipeline permitting are prominent given the pending fate of Line 5 and the Great Lakes Tunnel project. As the permitting process for construction of the Great Lakes Tunnel progresses, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced a key next step – the kick off of the open comment period for the initial phase of the Environmental Impact Statement process. The Corps also scheduled three public “scoping” meetings for the federal project review. Interested parties and stakeholders are invited to submit comments by Oct. 14.
News surrounding Governor Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel’s attempts to shutter the current Line 5 pipeline also came to light, as a federal judge recently ruled that litigation must remain in federal court and criticized the State’s gamesmanship, which was the theme of the unprecedented six Chamber amicus brief that Michigan coordinated.
U.S. District Court Judge Janet Neff of the Western District of Michigan soundly dismissed a motion by AG Nessel to transfer the case from federal to state court as an “attempt to gain an unfair advantage through the improper use of judicial machinery” with “procedural fencing and forum manipulation.” This ruling reaffirms an earlier court determination as the pipeline represents national interests and international negotiations between Canada and the U.S.
While retail gas and oil prices have leveled out some in recent weeks, prices remain at historic highs. Entities like the Michigan Chamber of Commerce say the need to keep Line 5 open and build the Great Lakes Tunnel is stronger than ever. It is a vital and indispensable source to help ensure our energy and economic future along with ensuring the most stringent protection of our precious Great Lakes.
For more information contact Mike Alaimo at malaimo@michamber.com.