The 5 Line oil pipeline that winds through Wisconsin and Michigan was granted a key permit this month. Pending federal studies and approvals, Canada-based Enbridge Energy will construct a new section and tunnel beneath the Great Lakes despite strong Indigenous opposition. Although Line 5 may not be on your radar at the moment, the controversy surrounding the 645-mile pipeline is expected to escalate in the coming years.
The seven-decade-old pipeline stretches from Superior, Wisconsin, through Michigan to Sarnia, Ontario, where it transports up to 540,000 gallons of oil and natural gas liquids daily. Enbridge Energy operates a network of over 3,000 miles of pipelines in the U.S. and Canada, including the contentious Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota. Hundreds of protesters, including citizens and members of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians and White Earth Band of Ojibwe, were arrested or cited in 2021 for opposing its construction.
Now, Enbridge Energy, bolstered by the Canadian government, aims to secure approvals for building a new $500 million conduit to replace an underwater section of Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac, all while facing legal challenges from numerous Indigenous nations as well as the state of Michigan. A primary concern is the aging pipeline’s threat to the Great Lakes, which accounts for over a fifth of the world’s fresh surface water. This concern led Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to order the shut down of Enbridge’s dual pipelines at the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac three years ago.
In response, the Bad River Band tribal nation filed a lawsuit against Enbridge regarding another section of Line 5 in Wisconsin. This section, located across 12 miles of the Bad River reservation, was installed in 1953 and has been the subject of ongoing legal battles. Enbridge has continued to operate the pipeline, challenging federal law regarding the renewal of expired right-of-way permits on Indian land. Despite opposition, the company insists on continued operations and plans to reroute the pipeline while appealing a Wisconsin judge’s decision.
Amidst this contentious landscape, Enbridge has successfully navigated the Michigan Public Service Commission to gain permission to build a new concrete tunnel beneath the channel connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The commission cited the necessity of the pipeline’s transportation services and identified alternative modes of transportation as high-risk ventures for potential spills.
Despite the moratorium by Governor Whitmer and the precarious environmental impact on the indigenous peoples’ lands, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in the process of drafting an environmental impact statement for the project, expected to be published in spring 2025. Canada continues to support the pipeline, in defense of a 1977 energy treaty between the U.S. and Canada, despite concerns from the affected Indigenous Peoples.
The Great Lakes, which cover an area as large as the U.K. and provide drinking water for millions of people, are at stake with an environmentally tumultuous Line 5. However, the pipeline continues to garner support due to its crucial role in supplying energy to the U.S. and Canada. This support is further fueled by the high consumer demand for affordable energy, especially amid the current inflation and rising prices of essential goods.
In conclusion, Line 5 remains a contentious issue, with ongoing legal battles and protests from Indigenous peoples. As the international community attempts to curb fossil fuel dependency, there are still significant challenges in determining a precise timeline and reducing consumer demand for affordable energy.
