For Immediate Release: January 18, 2021
Petrolia, Ontario – Lambton Federation of Agriculture supports Enbridge Line 5 to ensure propane supply to continue for Ontario and Quebec farms.
The Lambton Federation of Agriculture (LFA) held their Annual General Meeting on the evening of Friday January 15.
During the meeting, the LFA discussed and passed a resolution of support for Enbridge Pipeline’s Line 5, which supplies Plains Midstream Canada in Sarnia Ontario with Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs), which is the main source for propane produced and consumed in Ontario and Quebec (20% of Line 5 is dedicated to NGLs).
Propane makes up 2.3% of total energy consumption in Canada (2018: 109k barrels per day), and of that 40.3% of that is in Ontario (44k barrels/day), and of that 6.4% is Agricultural (2.8k barrels/day). Quebec uses less propane in total (12kb/d), but has a higher proportion (29.2%) of that usage in agricultural operations.
Various agricultural uses include:
- Heating livestock facilities, including barns and brooding pens
- Heating commercial greenhouses
- Powering irrigation systems
- Drying grains and crops
The State of Michigan announced on November 13 2020 that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources would revoke the 67-year-old easement that allowed the pipeline to operate under the Straits of Mackinac, and that the notice would require Enbridge to close the line in May 2021.
The LFA is calling on all levels of government and agricultural organizations to engage the incoming Biden Administration in the United States to find a solution that avoids an energy crisis in Canada during this COVID-19 pandemic.
There is a long-term solution being proposed. Enbridge is ready to invest US$500 million in a tunnel to house the line deep under the Straits of Mackinac. In the meantime Line 5 must stay open.
During the last two CN Rail shutdowns, the importance of propane became apparent for Ontario’s and Quebec’s farms as large users of propane.
Also, during the meeting, the LFA elected their new 2021 board of directors and heard from officials from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture on the issues and activities that will be important in the year to come.
The LFA also presented one of the two available Lambton County Warden’s scholarships, awarded to applicants who are current or former Lambton County residents, registered in a masters or doctorate program in the area of agriculture or related discipline, with preference given to students focusing on Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems.
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Backgrounders:
The Lambton Federation of Agriculture (LFA) is a non-profit general farm organization in Lambton County who helps and supports farmers and issues relating to their farm operations.
https://lambtonfederation.ca/home/whoweare/
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, proudly representing 38,000 farm family members across the province.
https://lambtonfederation.ca/home/about-the-ofa/
Enbridge Pipelines Inc. operates out of Sarnia (on Modeland Road), Calgary Alberta, and across North America.
https://www.enbridge.com/about-us
Lambton County Scholarships listing:
https://lambtonfederation.ca/scholarships/
Lambton County Warden’s Scholarship application:
https://lambtonfederation.ca/scholarships/lambton-county-warden-scholarship/
For More Information:
—
Gary Martin, President
Lambton Federation of Agriculture
519-864-4224 | lambtonfederation.ca
Backgrounder:
The impact of a Line 5 shutdown
