Legal Victory on Line 5

In a major legal victory for the industry, a federal judge has ruled Wednesday, December 17 that Michigan does not have the authority to shut down the Line 5 pipeline. U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker issued an order blocking Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s attempt to revoke an easement that would have effectively closed Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac, the critical waterway linking Lakes Michigan and Huron. Judge Jonker noted that the federal government is responsible for regulating interstate pipeline safety, and that Michigan officials’ efforts to permanently shut down Line 5 would interfere with U.S. foreign affairs authority vested exclusively in the federal government. Enbridge hailed the court’s decision as a win for energy reliability, emphasizing that continued operation of Line 5 ensures fuel supplies remain uninterrupted for the U.S. and Canadian markets. Questions? Contact Director of Regulatory Affairs and Associate General Counsel Kate Gaziano.