How Will the Pausing of Enbridge’s Line 5 Pipeline Affect the Energy Landscape

Energy Exchange explores the complex and critical intersection of energy, money and technology. Experts will use their insights and forecasts to outline what energy is available to us, the costs associated with that energy production and its use, and the technological innovations changing the way we utilize Earth’s resources to power our way of life.

Energy Exchange explores the complex and critical intersection of energy, money, and technology. Experts will use their insights and forecasts to outline what energy is available to us, the costs associated with that energy production and its use, and the technological innovations changing the way we utilize Earth’s resources to power our way of life.

Oil and petroleum are an essential part of the world economy. They fuel both automobiles and the economy. Recently, Enbridge Line 5 was ordered shut down by Michigan’s governor, Gretchen Whitmer. This is causing a variety of issues, including hampering relations between the United States and Canada.

Energy Exchange host David Hindinger welcomed an expert on the topic, Kait Bolognaro, to discuss the pipeline. Bolognaro is a reporter for Bloomberg.

Enbridge is a prominent Canadian oil company located in Calgary-Alberta, which is in Canada’s oil heartland. They are at the center of the oil industry in that country. They also do a significant amount of business in the United States. They move about 25 percent of the crude oil produced in North America, according to Bolognaro. They transport nearly 20 percent of the natural gas consumed in the U.S.

One of the big projects they’ve been working on is Line 5, which is a dual pipeline that travels under the streets of Mackinac in Michigan and Ontario.

“They [the lines] start underground, and they go underwater and across the straits for about 4.5 miles,” Bolognaro said. “They move 540,000 barrels of oil a day.” She elaborated that it is a huge source of energy for that region.

The pipeline has been in the news cycle, as the company would like to build a tunnel around the pipeline. Whitmer has been in opposition, causing quite a bit of headache for Enbridge and the Canadian Government. In November 2020, Whitmer revoked an easement that would’ve permitted the pipeline to cross the lakebed, which could force the whole project to shut down by May.

“Governor Whitmer is saying she’s concerned about the environmental impact of the project,” Bolognaro said.

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