Key facts
- Pipeline length
- 1,038 km
- Capacity
- 540,000 barrels per day
- Age
- 73 years
- Route
- Superior, Wis., across Michigan to Sarnia, Canada
- Court ruling
- Michigan Supreme Court ordered regulators to reconsider tunnel permit
- Northern shield corridor length
- 3,300 km
Background
Enbridge's Line 5 is a 1,038-kilometre pipeline that transports up to 540,000 barrels of oil per day from Superior, Wisconsin, across Michigan and into Canada at Sarnia, Ontario. The pipeline has been in operation for 73 years and runs along the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan connect.
In 2021, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered Line 5 shut down, arguing it posed an environmental threat to the Great Lakes. Enbridge refused to comply, asserting that the governor exceeded her authority and that federal jurisdiction applies. Canada invoked a 1977 treaty to keep the pipeline operating.
Current situation
On Friday, Michigan's Supreme Court ordered state regulators to reconsider a permit that would allow Enbridge to upgrade Line 5 by building a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac. The ruling means the tunnel construction plan must be redone, taking into account potential alternatives and environmental impacts.
Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong MP Marilyn Gladu said a 'Team Canada' approach is needed to protect the pipeline and the thousands of local jobs it supports. She has contacted the natural resources minister to coordinate efforts similar to those led by former minister Seamus O'Regan in 2021, involving provinces, the federal government, and partners in U.S. states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley, who called the court decision a huge setback, has also appealed to federal and provincial officials. In letters shared with media Tuesday, he asked governments to identify steps they are taking to protect jobs dependent on Line 5 and what Sarnia can do to help.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Pipeline length | 1,038 km |
| Capacity | 540,000 barrels per day |
| Age | 73 years |
| Northern shield corridor length | 3,300 km |
Impacts
Gladu said Line 5 has 'huge impacts' in both Canada and the U.S. Various airports rely on it for fuel, refineries in Ontario and several states depend on it, and it supplies propane for heating to millions of people in Ontario, Michigan, and Quebec.
If Line 5 were shut down, Gladu said it 'could be catastrophic.' The threat to the pipeline highlights the importance of other energy projects, such as the recently announced 3,300-kilometre northern shield energy corridor between Alberta and Sarnia, which could strengthen energy security and advance Canadian energy sovereignty, according to Bradley.
Ontario has said it is planning a feasibility study for the northern shield project by the end of the year.
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
The Michigan Supreme Court's ruling requires state regulators to reconsider the tunnel permit, which could delay or alter the project. If the permit is ultimately denied or significantly changed, Enbridge may face continued legal and regulatory challenges, potentially affecting the pipeline's operation.
Gladu suggested that threats to Line 5 are likely to continue, making projects like the northern shield corridor more relevant. If the northern shield project proceeds, it could provide an alternative route for energy transport, reducing reliance on infrastructure outside Canada.
However, the feasibility study is not yet complete, and the project's future remains uncertain. The outcome will depend on regulatory decisions, government coordination, and the willingness of all parties to engage in the proposed 'Team Canada' approach.
Source: theobserver.ca
