FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Friday, December 1, 2023
Contact: Sarah Tresedder, sarah.tresedder@sierraclub.org, 906-869-4167
Michigan Public Service Commission Approves Line 5 Tunnel Under the Straits of Mackinac
Lansing, MI – Today, the Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) approved a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac for the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline. The Commission approved the decision 2-0, with one Commissioner abstaining from the vote. While reading the rationale for approval, Commissioners thanked Tribal Nations for their engagement, to which they were booed. Tribal members, including youth, stated after the decision that they were disappointed in the decision.
The Michigan PSC simultaneously approved the Line 5 tunnel project while also stating the dangers and risks the current pipeline, which is over 70 years old, poses to the Great Lakes. Sierra Club maintains that the existing Line 5 pipeline poses a disastrous threat to the Great Lakes and must be shut down immediately.
Statement from Elayne Coleman, Chapter Director for the Michigan Sierra Club:
"The Michigan PSC just gave the same company responsible for the largest inland oil spill in United States history, which happened in Kalamazoo, permission to dig a new tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac to move oil into the United States in perpetuity. Allowing millions of gallons of crude oil to continue to flow under 21% of the world's freshwater is reckless. This decision locks the United States into oil & gas at a time when we need to pivot to clean energy in order to avoid the worst impacts of our changing climate. President Biden must intervene if he cares about the concerns raised by Tribal Nations and if he cares about a livable planet for current and future generations."