After entering office in January, Biden rescinded a cross-border permit for the Keystone pipeline over “environmental concerns.” Now, the Biden administration is talking about shutting down Line 5, an important Michigan pipeline. Line 5 is part of a network that moves petroleum products, including crude oil, from Western Canada to Escanaba, Michigan. Over 540,000 barrels of these products are transported on this important Michigan pipeline per day.
White House Shutting down an Important Michigan Pipeline?
The White House says they are studying the impact of shutting down Line 5. A day after Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm warned that Americans will have to pay more to heat their homes this winter, reports surfaced saying the Biden administration was considering shutting down the important Michigan pipeline. White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy met with environmental groups about the important Michigan pipeline last month. A source who attended the meeting told Politico a decision on shutting down Line 5 could come after a vote on Biden’s $1.85 trillion Build Back Better Act. Fox News reporter Steve Doocy asked the White House press secretary why the administration is “considering” shutting down Line 5, which carries oil and gas liquids from Canada through Wisconsin and Michigan. Press Secretary Jean-Pierre claimed that was not true but then admitted “the Army Corps of Engineers is preparing an environmental impact to look through this.” Politico also reported the Department of Energy having an “ongoing discussion” about the impact shutting down Line 5 would have on energy markets. All of this indicates preparation for shutting down the important Michigan pipeline 5.
Shutting Down Line 5: Republicans views
Biden’s talk of shutting down Line 5 has been sharply criticized by Republican lawmakers and other members of the government. Republicans have warned Biden this move could result in gas prices shooting up. Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Biden’s energy secretary, predicted that heating prices will rise this winter as a result. “Yeah, this is going to happen. It will be more expensive this year than last year.” Propane prices have risen 50 percent just in Michigan from last year. Shutting down this important Michigan pipeline could cause that to spike even more, and in places other than just Michigan. Over a dozen Republican lawmakers signed a letter and sent it to Biden. “This irresponsible action will hurt farmers, businesses, and families. President Biden has already done enough to weaken America’s energy security and international alliances, and the consequences of terminating Line 5 would only heighten these growing challenges,” the letter says. “As we enter the winter months and temperatures drop across the Midwest, the termination of Line 5 will undoubtedly further exacerbate shortages and price increases in home heating fuels like natural gas and propane at a time when Americans are already facing rapidly rising energy prices, steep home heating costs, global supply shortages, and skyrocketing gas prices,” wrote Bob Latta, a representative of Ohio, to Biden.
Jason Hayes, the director of environmental policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, blasted the Biden administration for the talk of shutting down the important Michigan pipeline. He told Fox News that shutting down Line 5 is “just one more example of [the Biden administration] being divorced from reality. I hope it doesn’t end like this, but where I see it going is unfortunately the same thing that happened in February in Texas: People freezing in their homes.” Let’s hope the Biden administration comes to their senses about shutting down the important Michigan pipeline 5 before that happens.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
