Enbridge got an early Christmas present from the federal bench last week, as a U.S. district judge shut down Michigan’s latest attempt to pull the plug on the Straits of Mackinac segment of Line 5. The court ruled that the Pipeline Safety Act of 1992 puts regulation of interstate pipelines firmly in federal hands, not state ones, granting Enbridge summary judgment and blocking further action by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state agencies. Pipeline safety and protection of the Straits remain serious concerns, but the judge made clear that Line 5 is a federal responsibility. Enbridge underscored that point by noting PHMSA has taken no enforcement action against the line, reinforcing its position that the pipeline continues to operate safely.
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You Oughta Know – Disputes, Disruptions Around FERC’s Rate Index Add to Industry Uncertainty
The liquids pipeline rate index, which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission uses to adjust the rates charged to shippers on the crude oil, refined products and NGL pipelines it regulates, is the most important rulemaking proceeding for interstate oil pipelines. In today’s RBN blog, we take a deeper dive into the rate index, the disruptions caused by recent attempts to adjust it mid-cycle, and how delays in the review process could cause problems down the road.
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Best of Intentions – One State’s Drive to Slash GHGs Slams Into Reality, and Sends a Warning to Others
Five years ago, Vermont enacted a law requiring steep reductions in GHG emissions and, in 2023, it directed regulators to develop a program to steer households and businesses away from heating oil and propane. But now everything’s in limbo — a development with important implications for other states.
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Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now – Elliott Affiliate Amber Energy Gets Green Light to Buy CITGO Refineries
Amber Energy has been declared the winner of the CITGO refineries and intends to keep the CITGO brand and operate it with new leadership focused on cost-cutting and operational improvements.
