Klobuchar, Franken, Peterson, Announce Waiver to Expedite Critical Propane Infrastructure Project

Statement

U.S Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken and Representative Collin Peterson announced today a waiver that will expedite a critical propane infrastructure project. This announcement comes after Klobuchar, Franken, and Peterson sent a letter to the Army Corp of Engineers to urge their immediate consideration and allow the project to move forward without unnecessary delay.

"The sharp decline in the propane supply this past winter increased prices for families and businesses and put the safety of Minnesotans at risk," said Klobuchar. "This new terminal will help alleviate the infrastructure and transportation bottleneck that chocked off supply and left insufficient propane supplies for Minnesotans."

"When the propane crisis hit last winter, I traveled around Minnesota and heard from families and producers about how much it hurt them," said Franken. "I heard from everyone-- from homeowners who couldn't afford to heat their homes to turkey growers who couldn't heat their barns. This new project will help bring much-needed propane to Minnesota."

"Last winter's propane shortage meant Minnesotans paid near record prices to heat their homes and left many facing uncertainty about propane access in the future," Peterson said. "The waiver will allow this project to move forward, helping address the barriers that caused the propane shortage by increasing propane supplies in advance of the fall and winter season."

The proposed project is being put forward by Dooley Petroleum of Benson. It includes the installation of a railroad unloading track capable of storing one million gallons of propane to resupply their existing 1.5 million gallon terminal facility. Any delays in the project could jeopardize the supply of propane available crop drying and heating season this winter.

Last winter, the Midwest experienced a major shortage in propane that caused a drastic spike in price. More than 200,000 households in Minnesota rely on propane as their main source of heat.

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