Fuel industry officials and independent experts estimate closing the dual pipelines beneath the Straits of Mackinac would cut off not only thousands of gallons of propane a day in the Upper Peninsula but also light crude shipments to Detroit, Toledo and Sarnia, Ontario, refineries that convert the oil into gas, diesel and jet fuel. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Enbridge said an attempt by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to shut down Line 5 would have devastating consequences. The Democratic governor said Friday she has filed a lawsuit seeking validation of the action in Ingham County Circuit Court. In reviewing the easement, the DNR operated in a "non-public manner" and rejected Enbridge's offer to discuss questions with the company's technical experts, the company said. The governor's decision came "without incident, provocation or notice" and will "create chaos" among Midwest economies and consumers who depend on the line for heating needs, said Consumer Energy Alliance, a Houston-based group focusing on "sensible energy and environmental policies.". ... Enbridge seeks to block Michigan's move to shut down Line 5 … The pipeline carries about 23 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids daily between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ontario, traversing parts of northern Michigan and Wisconsin. The Alberta government is not taking kindly to the latest attempt by Michigan's governor to shut down Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline. Rick Snyder. Michigan governor files lawsuit to shut down Enbridge line 5 pipeline under Great Lakes By John Flesher The Associated Press Posted November 13, 2020 7:22 pm The notice comes after years of environmental concerns about the 67-year-old dual pipeline and the risk the lines present should they rupture beneath the Straits of Mackinac. "This action is based on sound scientific evidence that the continued operation of the pipelines poses an unacceptable level of risk to the health and safety of residents of Michigan," Schwab said. The Cyberpandemic has Begun: SolarWinds + FireEye – Gmail & Google services down, United States LNG Exports Reach Third Place, “Cushing Oil Inventories Are Soaring Again” By Tsvetana Paraskova, CA is the Top US Net importer of Electricity, The Two Midstream Oil Stocks Set To Thrive In 2021, Tesla’s 1,000% Stock Price Explosion Isn’t About Electric Cars, Growing Crude Inventories Put A Cap On Oil Prices, OPEC+ Getting Closer To Hatching January Plan. The latter incident was believed to have been the fault of one of five vessels in the area at the time, four of which were contracted by Enbridge. Photo courtesy of Enbridge, Inc. Enbridge agreed in 2018 to build a $500 million utility tunnel beneath the straits to protect the pipeline, but the plan was immediately challenged by Whitmer's administration and Attorney General Dana Nessel when they took office in January 2019. PIPELINES: A Michigan judge orders Enbridge to temporarily shut down Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac, citing a lack of disclosure following significant damage last week to one of the line’s anchor supports. Learn how energy insiders think. Whitmer timed her shutoff notice to coincide with the onset of spring in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Line 5 is part of Enbridge’s Lakehead network of pipelines that carries oil from western Canada to refineries in the U.S. and Ontario. “Line 5 remains safe, as envisioned by the 1953 Easement, and as recently validated by our federal safety regulator,” Enbridge Liquids Pipelines executive vice president and president Vern Yu said in a statement. A cutoff of Line 5 would likely have an unknown impact on regular unleaded gas prices in Michigan depending on market conditions, according to industry experts. The shutdown would have a minimal effect on cost, they contend. That’s the last thing Michigan needs as we work to overcome the coronavirus pandemic.”. ... Michigan’s Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered Enbridge to close … Last year, the Toledo Refining Co. told the Toledo Blade that a permanent closure of the pipeline would shutter the refinery and its 550 jobs. After discovering a damaged anchor support on one of the two lines carrying oil and natural gas downstate from the Upper Peninsula, the company took precautionary measures. The Enbridge Line 5 pipelines runs under the Straits of Mackinac, where Lakes Huron and Michigan meet, and ships 540,000 barrels per day of light crude oil and propane, serving both retail customers and refiners in Michigan and Ohio. The announcement was welcomed Friday by environmental groups as protecting the Great Lakes and attacked by neighboring Ohio's governor and energy groups as costing jobs and raising … LANSING, MI -- Gov. Enbridge Line 5 ordered shut down by Michigan Gov. June 21 update: Enbridge rebuffs Whitmer, won’t close Line 5 after damage to anchor support Enbridge Energy has shut down the Line 5 petroleum pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac following “significant damage” to an anchor support on the lakebottom pipeline, Gov. The company has also said a Line 5 shutdown would increase fuel prices and harm Southeast Michigan and Ohio refineries that process oil from Line 5. Whitmer's decision was praised by environmental groups, including the National Wildlife Federation, which called it an "historic win for the Great Lakes, wildlife and climate action.". The conduct goes against the 2018 agreement between the state and oil company, Enbridge said, citing the pact with the administration of Republican former Gov. Enbridge responded Friday to Gov. Please see future editions of The Expositor for further coverage on this development in the Line 5 debate. Moderna Vaccine vs Pfizer "Vaccine" . Enbridge’s historic failures and current non-compliance present too great a risk to our Great Lakes and the people who depend upon them,” Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Eichinger said. Gretchen Whitmer is moving to shut down Line 5 by revoking and ending a 1953 easement that allows Enbridge Energy to run the dual pipeline through the Straits of Mackinac. Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the director of the state’s Department of Natural Resources have revoked Enbridge’s easement for the operation of the twin Line 5 pipeline, citing repeated violations of the easement and the need to protect the Great Lakes. The energy company announced Tuesday it has filed a complaint in federal court seeking to block Gov. The state also contended that the Canadian company has failed to show "due care" while operating the pipeline, alleging the company failed to ensure the pipeline is supported every 75 feet, make sure the pipelines are covered by corrosion prevention coating and comply with curvature benchmarks. Michigan Moves to Shut Down Enbridge Line 5 Pipelines. Enbridge had temporarily shut down Line 5 after discovering significant damage to an anchor support on one of the dual pipelines running through the Straits of Mackinac. Dear Editor: Enbridge Line 5, a 67-year-old Canadian oil pipeline, starts in Superior, and traverses east using the upper Great Lake states for a shortcut to its destination in Sarnia, Ontario. Enbridge is reviewing the notice it received Friday afternoon and said there is no "credible basis" for revoking the easement. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday evening. “This notice and the report from Michigan Department of Natural Resources are a distraction from the fundamental facts,” said Vern Yu, executive vice president and president of liquid pipelines for Enbridge. While pipelines are federally regulated, Line 5 is unique because it crosses the Great Lakes bottomlands, so Enbridge holds an easement from the State of Michigan for the use of the Great Lakes public trust resource. Enbridge said the attempt by the state to shut down Line 5 interferes with federal regulation of pipeline safety, adding the federal regulator had found Line 5 – two 20-inch-diameter, parallel pipelines – fit for service earlier this year. Gretchen Whitmer is moving to shut down Line 5 by revoking and ending a 1953 easement that allows Enbridge Energy to run … “I think some representatives are certainly passionate about the tunnel and making sure we build that with union labor.”, © 2020 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper, industry experts told The Detroit News last year. Labor Day, September 2, 2019. Whitmer also pointed to the April 2018 anchor strike of the line and the June 2020 discovery of pipeline scrapes that Enbridge believed had happened sometime in June 2019. So far, court challenges to the agreement have been largely unsuccessful, and Enbridge continues to operate in the Straits. Michigan consumers could experience price hikes for fuel, natural gas and propane if Line 5 is shut down while increasing the risk of a spill on land, industry experts told The Detroit News last year. The company notified the state about the damage on Thursday, according to a statement from the governor's office. Lawsuits temporarily stopped work on the replacement, but Enbridge recently won one at the Michigan Circuit Court that allowed it to restart work. Please, Trans Mountain Oil Pipeline Halts Work After Serious Injury, Colorado Oil And Gas Lease Sale Ends With Few Takers, U.S. The state of Michigan is seeking to permanently shut down Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline, a section of which is shown here on the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac. (The Center Square) – Enbridge has shut down temporarily its Line 5 pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac. We will not share your email address.You can unsubscribe at any time. But it would be more likely to spike the price of propane, which many residents in the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan rely on for heat during the six-month-long cold season. Gretchen Whitmer revealed Friday that Enbridge had shut down Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac after an anchor support sustained "significant damage" from an "unknown" cause. Enbridge sues Michigan over Line 5 shutdown order . It also featured Republican state Reps. Gary Howell of Deerfield Township, Gary Eisen of St. Clair Township and Phil Green of Millington. That’s why we’re taking action now, and why I will continue to hold accountable anyone who threatens our Great Lakes and fresh water.”. Nothing contained on the Web site shall be considered a recommendation, solicitation, or offer to buy or sell a security to any person in any jurisdiction. Gretchen Whitmer is ordering the controversial Enbridge Line 5 pipeline be shut down, citing multiple violations … Join us in taking action to shut down Line 5, and tell the MPSC to say no to moving Line 5 into an oil tunnel. November 24, 2020 | Kelly House. Among those featured on the billboard were Democratic state Reps. Cynthia Neeley of Flint, Brian Elder of Bay City, John Cherry of Flint, Tim Sneller of Burton and Sheryl Kennedy of Davison. Alberta’s Premier Jason Kenney called the move concerning. “The impact of this would be devastating,” Kenney said, as quoted by Global News. The Michigan Legislature approved it in late 2018. Earlier this fall, the Laborers’ International Union of North America displayed a digital billboard along westbound Interstate 69 between Flint and Lansing thanking several Democratic and Republican lawmakers for their approval of a resolution supporting the Line 5 tunnel. The decision was criticized by the business groups, manufacturing associations and labor leaders who are part of the Great Lakes Michigan Jobs Coalition, a group that urged state regulators to accelerate permitting for tunnel construction. Gretchen Whitmer is shutting down Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline, citing multiple violations by the company of the 1953 easement with the state, along with a duty to protect the Great Lakes. But the majority on the Michigan Supreme Court — should such a challenge reach the state's highest court — is due to flip in January with a 4-3 majority of Democratic-nominated justices. Skip to comments. Enbridge, for its part, said the pipeline is safe, as evidenced by the recently granted PHMSA approval of the replacement project. “This historic decision sends a clear message that we are absolutely not willing to risk the Great Lakes and the critical role they play in America’s economy and way of life," said Collin O'Mara, president and CEO for the National Wildlife Federation. "Today’s move would kill jobs and increase fuel costs. Gretchen Whitmer wanted to shut down Line 5 within two years — three years before Enbridge says a … “If we thought they might come past 69 there, we put them on there,” said Jonathan Byrd, director of external affairs for the Michigan Laborers District Council, in September. Lansing — Gov. But environmental groups have questioned the dire industry predictions, arguing Line 5 is not critical energy infrastructure and could be replaced easily by a handful of extra trucks or rail cars. “We will continue to focus on the safe operation of the dual Line 5 pipelines at the Straits of Mackinac, ensuring the Great Lakes are protected while also reliably delivering the energy that helps to fuel Michigan’s and the region’s economy.”, Twitter Blocks Iran Oil Minister's Account, U.S. Natural Gas Stocks Close To Record-High At Refill Season End, Lithuanians Urged To Stockpile Food Amid Reports Of Nuclear Power Incident, Finland Shuts Down Nuclear Reactor After ‘Severe Abnormal Disturbance’, OPEC+ Forced To Reschedule Meeting As Disagreements Persist, The North Face Fashion Brand Refuses To Serve Oil Firm, Oil Price Rally Stalls On Large Crude Build, Oil Plunges After EIA Reports Huge Crude Build, Canada's Oil Industry Will Be Indispensable For Decades To Come. 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