Republican Representatives Introduce Bill to Prevent Future Presidents from Shutting Down Line 5 Pipeline
Republican U.S. Representatives Tim Walberg, John Moolenaar, and Jack Bergman have introduced a bill aimed at preventing future presidents from unilaterally shutting down the Line 5 pipeline. This legislative effort comes amidst a long-standing and complex debate in Michigan regarding the 73-year-old pipeline, which transports up to 540,000 barrels of petroleum per day from Wisconsin to Ontario through the Straits of Mackinac. Opponents of Line 5 advocate for its closure due to environmental concerns and the risk of oil spills in the Great Lakes, while supporters, including Canadian oil giant Enbridge Energy, propose rerouting it into a concrete-lined tunnel beneath the Straits. The Michigan Supreme Court recently vacated a state permit for the tunnel project, citing insufficient consideration of environmental impacts, requiring a more thorough review by the Michigan Public Service Commission. Despite this, the Trump administration granted a key federal permit for the tunnel last week. 
