The battle over the future of Line 5 through the Mackinac Straits has been raging for years.
As interested parties await the construction of the underground utility tunnel, the state’s executive branch and environmentalists say the line needs to be shut down now.
Enbridge, the owner of the line, says that will create an energy crunch.
“The orderly shut down of Line 5 to protect the Great Lakes from an oil spill has been stalled based on false information Enbridge continues to spread to the public and decision makers at all levels,” said Beth Wallace, Great Lakes freshwater campaigns manager for the National Wildlife Federation.
Opponents to Line 5 say it is an environmental disaster waiting to happen.
Enbridge says a spill-proof tunnel is on its way but it will take time.
The state and environmentalists say the line needs to be closed now, until the tunnel is completed.
Enbridge says that will lead to skyrocketing fuel and heating costs in the Great Lakes region.
Those opponents point to new court documents, and quotes by an expert hired by Enbridge, that say different.
“Mr. Earnest estimates the closing Line 5 will increase gasoline, jet fuel and diesel prices in Michigan and Wisconsin by about a half cent per gallon,” said Douglas Jester of 5 Lakes Energy.
In a battle of ‘he said, she said’ that has spanned years, that actually is in the document. In a new filing in the lawsuit against Enbridge by the Bar River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
“What this document shows is that Enbridge has known that price impacts will be around half a cent a gallon and instead of being honest about that, they’ve chosen to continue to deceive the Michigan public into thinking there’s going to be shortages and giant price increases,” said Sean McBrearty of Oil & Water Don’t Mix.
Enbridge does not deny the findings but say they are out of context, saying the analysis “looks at potential impact in a scenario where line 5 has been shut down and replacement infrastructure has been built and put into service.”
There are no replacement infrastructure plans in place yet.
“It seems to me we have to move forward with this as it is,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga, “Otherwise we’re just gonna be doubling down on our trouble.”
Enbridge argues this analysis was done before the energy crisis the world is facing right now and any closure of any source will be felt, especially here.
It will ultimately come down to the courts to decide, both in this Bad River lawsuit and one brought by the state of Michigan.
“We’re waiting for the federal judge in this case,” said Dana Nessel, Michigan attorney general, “Our briefing has all been submitted and we’re just waiting to hear from the court.”
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