Enbridge won approval in December to replace a pipeline segment that runs under the Great Lakes, only to face swift legal challenges from two environmental groups.
The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) and the Michigan Climate Action Network filed an appeal against the decision by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) with the Michigan Court of Appeals on Dec. 22.
“One of the Commission’s primary responsibilities under Michigan law is to evaluate whether there are feasible and prudent alternatives to projects like this that will pose fewer environmental risks and cost less money,” Scott Strand, senior attorney at the ELPC, said in a Dec. 22 release. “But the Commission simply refused to consider the best alternative out there, which is simply to shut down the old Line 5 pipelines under the Straits and not replace them with a new pipeline at all.”
The Line 5 pipeline runs across the Mackinac Strait that separates Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Line 5 is a twin pipeline with a capacity of 540,000 bbl/d that carries crude and NGL. Enbridge proposes to replace the two lines with a single line in a concrete tunnel below the lakebed.
Enbridge still needs approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to proceed. The company praised the Michigan Public Service Commission for the approval.
“Enbridge would like to thank everyone who provided public comment on the project. We are also grateful to the organizations that intervened in the MPSC approval process to advance the project, including the National and Michigan Propane Associations, and the Michigan Laborers’ District Council,” Enbridge spokesperson Ryan Duffy said in a statement. “The input from intervenors on both sides of the issue raised important questions that challenge us all to get this right.”
Line 5, built in 1953 supplies 55% of Michigan's statewide propane needs, according to Enbridge.
Recommended Reading
Parker Wellbore, TDE Partner to ‘Revolutionize’ Well Drilling
2024-03-13 - Parker Wellbore and TDE are offering what they call the industry’s first downhole high power, high bandwidth data highway.
Ecopetrol, Occidental Permian JV Generating Positive Results
2024-03-07 - Ecopetrol SA's joint venture with Occidental Petroleum in the Permian continues to generate outstanding operational and financial results for the Colombian state-owned energy giant.
Equinor Brings Solar Plant Online in Brazil
2024-03-08 - Equinor says the Mendubim solar plant will produce 1.2 terawatt hours of power annually.
TotalEnergies, Sinopec to Develop SAF Unit in China
2024-03-26 - TotalEnergies and Sinopec’s production unit will have the capacity to produce 230,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel per year.
OEP Completes Acquisition of TechnipFMC’s Measurement Solutions Business
2024-03-27 - One Equity Partners said TechnipFMC’s measurement solutions business will be rebranded as Guidant and specialize in measurement technology, automation solutions and global systems.