Equity Method Investments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investments
Certain investments of the Partnership are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. These investments are recorded within "Unconsolidated affiliates" on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) and the Partnership's portion of the results is reflected in "Equity Earnings in Unconsolidated Affiliates" on the Condensed Statements of Consolidated and Combined Operations (unaudited). These investments are integral to the Partnership's business. Contributions are made to these equity investees to fund the Partnership's share of capital projects.
The following table contains contribution and distribution data representing the Partnership's portion based on the Partnership's ownership percentage of each investment:
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Millennium Pipeline
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contributions to Millennium Pipeline
$
4.3

 
$
1.4

 
$
6.2

 
$
1.4

Distributions of earnings from Millennium Pipeline
17.5

 
13.3

 
41.3

 
37.5

Hardy Storage
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contributions to Hardy Storage

 

 

 

Distributions of earnings from Hardy Storage

 

 
1.4

 
1.0

Pennant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contributions to Pennant

 

 

 

Distributions of earnings from Pennant
2.3

 
2.9

 
8.3

 
5.6

Return of capital from Pennant
0.8

 
0.2

 
1.6

 
2.4


During the third quarter of 2015, an additional member joined the Pennant joint venture. The member's initial ownership investment in Pennant is 5.00%, and by funding specified, disproportionate investment amounts for future growth projects, the member can invest directly in the growth of Pennant. Such funding will potentially increase the member's ownership in Pennant up to 33.33% over a defined investment period. As a result of the buy-in, Columbia Midstream received $12.7 million in cash and recorded a gain of $2.9 million, and its ownership interest in Pennant decreased from 50.00% to 47.50%.