On Monday, November 9, NEFI and the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) submitted a letter to President Trump requesting a 90-day extension of the partial Jones Act waiver, which expires November 15. This request would see the extension run from mid-November through mid-February, covering the coldest stretch of the heating season, when our members and their customers require a dependable fuel supply the most.

The case is straightforward. East Coast distillate inventories, which include heating oil, sat at 32 percent below their five-year average in September and are projected to stay well below average through the winter. No region relies more on delivered fuels than the Northeast, yet only a small number of Jones Act-qualified tankers serve it, and not a single Jones Act-qualified tanker in the fleet can carry propane. Letting the waiver lapse now would bring back the costs and shipping constraints it was designed to prevent.

We also asked that any extension include an expedited review process for heating fuels, covering heating oil, kerosene, diesel, propane and biofuels. Under the current terms, each voyage requires a written request and a review of U.S.-flag vessel availability before it can proceed. In January, a few days of delay can leave a terminal short when a cold snap hits.

With less than a week left before the extension expires, we will keep you up to date as the situation evolves.

NEFI President & CEO Jim Collura signed the letter alongside NPGA President & CEO Steve Kaminski. The letter follows our joint request to the White House in July.

Read the full letter here.