Michigan Appeals Court Upholds Enbridge Pipeline Tunnel Project

The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld the state Public Service Commission's decision to permit Enbridge Energy's $500 million project to build a protective tunnel around its aging Line 5 pipeline, which runs beneath the Straits of Mackinac. The court rejected challenges from environmental groups and Indigenous tribes, who argued that the commission did not adequately consider the overall necessity of the pipeline or the potential climate impacts of fossil fuels transported by it. Enbridge has used the pipeline since 1953 to transport crude oil and natural gas liquids, and concerns about a spill have grown since 2017 when gaps in the pipeline's coating were disclosed. The ruling comes after the commission issued permits for the project in December 2023, following an agreement with the state government. Despite Enbridge’s claims of structural integrity, opposition groups continue to express concerns over the environmental risks associated with the pipeline. The company still needs federal permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before construction can begin.