Gretchen Whitmer from moving forward with plans to shut down Line 5 by May. (The Center Square) – Enbridge has shut down temporarily its Line 5 pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac. The twin pipelines have been in operation for 65 years, which prompted the Canadian pipeline operator to propose a replacement of a section of the pipes with new ones a few years ago. 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. Enbridge must shut down the pipeline by May under the notice. Enbridge Line 5 is a major oil pipeline in the Enbridge Lakehead System, which conveys petroleum from western Canada to eastern Canada via the Great Lakes states. “Moreover, the state is terminating the easement based on Enbridge’s persistent and incurable violations of the easement’s terms and conditions.”. 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.". November 24, 2020 | Kelly House. 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. 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. Gretchen Whitmer is moving to shut down Line 5 by revoking and ending a 1953 easement that allows Enbridge Energy to run … 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 has routinely refused to take action to protect our Great Lakes and the millions of Americans who depend on them for clean drinking water and good jobs. 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. "Today’s move would kill jobs and increase fuel costs. "We ask that you please consider options to improve the safety of Line 5 that does not result in taking the pipeline offline," he wrote. Gretchen Whitmer's decision to shut down the Line 5 dual pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac. “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. LANSING, MI -- Gov. "LANSING — 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. “Line 5 remains safe, as envisioned by the 1953 Easement, and as recently validated by our federal safety regulator.". 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 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. Skip to comments. Michigan Moves to Shut Down Enbridge Line 5 Pipelines. The notice would require Enbridge to shut down its Line 5 pipeline, which carries crude oil and natural gas through the Michigan peninsulas from the Canadian province of Ontario to Wisconsin. Gretchen Whitmer’s order to shut down the controversial oil and natural gas liquids pipeline, Line 5. 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. Receive our cutting-edge 3-part investor education series for FREE. The World Economic Forum & Davos - Setting the agenda on fossil fuels, global regulations, etc. China's Top Refiner Sees Oil Product Demand Peak By 2025. However, the replacement project sparked the outrage of environmentalists and Native American communities in the area. 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. “The impact of this would be devastating,” Kenney said, as quoted by Global News. “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. Ohio Gov. 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. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday evening. That’s the last thing Michigan needs as we work to overcome the coronavirus pandemic.”. "This legally specious action, taken just nine days after a closely contested election, should be rejected out of hand by the courts," said Chris Ventura, Midwest director for the alliance. Alberta’s Premier Jason Kenney called the move concerning. "Enbridge has routinely refused to take action to protect our Great Lakes and the millions of Americans who depend on them for clean drinking water and good jobs. 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 fuel and heating prices for consumers. The shutdown would have a minimal effect on cost, they contend. Enbridge Line 5 ordered shut down by Michigan Gov. “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. 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.". “The state is revoking the easement for violation of the public trust doctrine, given the unreasonable risk that continued operation of the dual pipelines poses to the Great Lakes,” an official statement said. The Michigan Legislature approved it in late 2018. 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. "Labor and business, Republicans and Democrats, we all support the Great Lakes Tunnel because it creates and protects jobs and affordable energy," said Geno Alessandrini, business manager for the Michigan Laborers Union. 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. The energy company announced Tuesday it has filed a complaint in federal court seeking to block Gov. "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. 1 weather alerts 1 … 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 opponents argued that a proposed tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac to house the pipeline will increase the risk of oil spills in a basin that provides drinking water to some 40 million people. Photo courtesy of Enbridge, Inc. The pipeline presents an "unreasonable risk" to the Great Lakes in violation of the public trust doctrine, Whitmer said in a statement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 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. Michigan Order Enbridge To Shut Down Line 5 By Charles Kennedy - Nov 16, 2020, 10:30 AM CST. Please see future editions of The Expositor for further coverage on this development in the Line 5 debate. 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. They have repeatedly violated the terms of the 1953 easement by ignoring structural problems that put our Great Lakes and our families at risk,” Governor Whitmer said last week. 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. They have repeatedly violated the terms of the 1953 easement by ignoring structural problems that put our Great Lakes and our families at risk,” Whitmer said in a  statement. “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. “The Notice concludes that Enbridge’s Line 5 is a grave and unreasonable risk to the state’s residents and natural resources and requires the pipeline to be shut down 180 days from now, on May 12, 2021,” a release from Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office said. Enbridge, for its part, said the pipeline is safe, as evidenced by the recently granted PHMSA approval of the replacement project. Merchant of Record: A Media Solutions trading as Oilprice.com, That email address is already in the database. Ohio's two refineries near the Michigan border supply fuel to Ohio and southeast Michigan, including the Detroit Metro Airport, DeWine said in the letter. The source of the damage is currently unclear. 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.”. Lansing — Michigan Gov. The governor's action does not prevent Enbridge from continuing its permitting process and construction of the tunnel, the state said. 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. 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 responded Friday to Gov. 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. Labor Day, September 2, 2019. “The governor’s reckless lawsuit revokes an easement for a pipeline that has never leaked, and is jeopardizing the fuel supply needed for interstate commerce.". Explore this newsroom to find out operational and project details , separate fact from fiction , ask questions , and learn more about our ongoing investment in communities across Michigan . “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. ” Kenney said, as quoted by Global News of the Expositor enbridge line 5 shut down further coverage on this in! Coincide with the onset of spring in northern Michigan who are fighting to shut down Enbridge 5... 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