So, get this – the Army Corps of Engineers is speeding up the permit review process for a new section of an oil and gas pipeline that’s going to run through protected wetlands on the border of Canada and the U.S. Why? Because President Trump declared a national energy emergency, that’s why. Enbridge Energy, a Canadian company, is behind this pipeline that will go under the Straits of Mackinac, connecting Lakes Michigan and Huron with a massive tunnel. And guess what? Tribal groups that were working with the Corps on the environmental impact statement for the project said, “See ya later!” when they found out about the emergency review. Drama, drama, drama.
Now, this project, known as Line 5, is just a piece of a much larger 645-mile pipeline that goes from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario. It moves a whopping 22 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids every single day. The Corps is all like, “Yep, this fits under Trump’s order from January,” and they’re pushing this thing through like nobody’s business. But wait, there’s more! The Department of Interior decided to speed up energy reviews starting on April 23, saying they’re going to zoom through these projects like they’re in a race or something. Energy, in this case, means fossil fuels, geothermal, nuclear, and hydropower. So, basically, anything that’s not wind or solar.
Dave Scott, a senior attorney at the Environment Law & Policy Center, said these new emergency procedures are really shaking things up. He’s worried that the public won’t have a say in decisions that could seriously mess with the environment. And you know what? He might be onto something.
The Interior Department is going all out, too. They’re talking about this “alternative National Environmental Policy Act” that’s going to cut the time it takes for projects to get approved. Environmental groups are side-eyeing all of this, questioning if there’s really an energy emergency or if it’s just a ploy to help out the fossil fuel industry.
Enbridge says they need to replace the old pipelines because they’re from 1953 and could spill oil if they’re not careful. They want to bury the new pipeline under the lakebed to keep everyone safe. But tribal groups, citizens, and environmentalists are all like, “Uh, no thanks.” They’re worried about the Great Lakes, which provide drinking water for millions of people. They’re also not buying the argument that Line 5 is essential for the region’s energy supply.
But guess what? Enbridge is still waiting on permits from the feds and the state before they can start digging. The state of Michigan gave them the green light, but that’s expiring soon. So, they’re crossing their fingers and hoping for the best.
At the end of the day, it’s a battle between those who want to protect the environment and those who want to keep the energy flowing. Who will come out on top? Only time will tell.
