Posted on 11/11/2021 8:13:07 AM PST by Red Badger
KEY POINTS:
* The Biden administration is reviewing the possible ramifications of shutting down a key pipeline transporting crude oil and natural gas from Canada to Michigan.
* “We have a state in Michigan that uses the most residential propane in the nation,” said Jason Hayes, the director of environmental policy for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. “And yet, we’re seriously considering shutting down this pipeline and giving these people not even two or three months notice, just basically saying, ‘well, sorry, you’re gonna be on your own.'”
* Line 5 carries about 540,000 barrels of oil and gas per day from Canada to Michigan, which relies on the pipeline for most of its propane needs, according to its operator Enbridge.
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The Biden administration is reviewing the possible ramifications of shutting down a key pipeline transporting crude oil and natural gas from Canada into the Midwest.
The White House recently initiated a study of the economic impacts of closing the Line 5 pipeline, principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed at a press conference Monday. She added that the Army Corps of Engineers was preparing an environmental impact study on shutting down the pipeline.
President Joe Biden faced significant criticism last week after Politico reported his administration’s decision to study Line 5.
“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,” Republican Ohio Rep. Bob Latta wrote in a Nov. 4 letter alongside a dozen other lawmakers.
Line 5 carries about 540,000 barrels of oil and gas per day from Canada to Michigan, according to the pipeline’s operator, Enbridge. The pipeline provides energy to several Midwestern states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana.
Line 5 alone accounts for about 55% of Michigan’s propane supply, Enbridge said. Roughly 320,000 Michigan households primarily rely upon propane for their heating needs.
“We should be remembering the people that are going to be going through the upcoming winter months whether it’s in Michigan or other northern states,” Jason Hayes, the director of environmental policy for the Michigan-based Mackinac Center for Public Policy, told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“We have a state in Michigan that uses the most residential propane in the nation,” he continued. “And yet, we’re seriously considering shutting down this pipeline and giving these people not even two or three months notice, just basically saying, ‘well, sorry, you’re gonna be on your own.'”
Hayes added that it’s “extremely poor energy policy” to shut down Line 5 and that the move would be dangerous, considering the number of people dependent on the pipeline. Overall, closing the pipeline would cause at least $20.8 billion in economic losses to Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, according to a Consumer Energy Alliance study.
Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, meanwhile, has condemned Line 5 repeatedly since taking office. In November 2020, she revoked a 1953 easement allowing Enbridge to operate pipelines in the state, months after she asked the firm to halt operations over environmental concerns.
Enbridge eventually sued Whitmer in federal court, arguing that she doesn’t have the authority to regulate international pipelines, the Associated Press reported.
Last month, the Canadian government invoked a 1977 pipeline treaty between the two nations for the first time ever. The treaty prohibits any action that impedes the transport of hydrocarbons through U.S.-Canada pipelines, including Line 5.
“In response to Michigan’s efforts to shut down Line 5, Canada has raised its significance for Canadian economic and energy security at the highest levels of the U.S. federal government,” Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau said in a statement. “We have also stressed the importance of fully respecting and implementing the international agreements that are in place between our two countries.”
Since taking office, Biden has taken aim at the fossil fuel industry as part of his aggressive climate agenda. The president revoked the Keystone XL pipeline’s federal permit, ditched an Alaskan drilling project, prohibited new oil and gas leasing on federal lands, introduced sweeping regulations on hydrocarbons and initiated a review of Alaska’s petroleum reserve.
“Gretchen Whitmer and the Biden administration are making it unaffordable for Michigan families to fill their gas tanks and heat their homes,” Eric Ventimiglia, executive director of the conservative group Michigan Rising Action, said in a statement Monday. “The effort to shut down Line 5 is short-sighted, and would put immense financial pressure on families across the state.”
“Shutting down Line 5 would create a humanitarian crisis and exacerbate the dire economic conditions created by the Democrats’ failed policies,” he continued.
Looks like an extra large flock of snowbirds this year in FLA.
I believe his mind is made up.
Shutting this down is a way to ween the public off of fuel and forcing us to adopt alternative energy.
Everything seems to be done deliberately in an attempt to punish everyone.
Bad supposition. I believe that someone made up his "mind" for him.
We need to bring down the wrath of the Nation on their tiny political heads and let them know it is time to stop this foolishness.
Shutting down pipelines as what is predicted to be a harsh winter is already bearing down on us. Seriously.
Those phones lines in DC should be so hot they are spontaneously combusting.
We also need to be on the line to our Govenors, Asst. Govs. and AG’s as they will be violating international agreements.
We’ve got to start using the laws in our favor and not sitting on our hands.
A continuance of that “Leveling The Playing Field” Obama ran on.
ONLY-—they really are taking the USA into Third world territory.
Biden doesn’t obey the laws, he has already given the SCOTUS the middle finger when they ruled stay in Me ico policy must stay in place, AND gave the 5th circuit the middle finger when they placed a stay on the vaccine mandates these asshats don’t give a shit what the courts say UNLESS they are the ones filing the lawsuits!! IF we ever get the WH back we need to do the same give the 9th circuit the middle finger!! If it had not been for all of the lefts lawsuits the damn wall would have been built already!! I believe now that even if the wall had been completely built Biden would have had bulldozers down there ripping it down not a doubt in my mind!!
Those bugs have done damage all the way to the Yupe
I think this might be complaining supposed “Native Americans.”
This asshole needs to go, one way or another but he needs to be gone.
How long are Americans going to put up with this clown?
At least another year and a half...............
There is no "rational" explanation for doing this.
Biden's Administration is filled with "activists"; not your generic Democrat. They are true believers that oil and gas are evil, that America is evil, that Americans are evil; so, they do everything they can to hurt us.
Look at the economy, look at our disasterous pull out from Afghanistan, look at what they have done to our election process.
Making everyone freeze all winter will make them happy. It won't affect them, they have connections.
Shutting down that pipeline without a major fight is not likely. Those folks in the north don’t take lightly with these kinds of shenanigans.
Now, couple this with the states that have outlawed fireplaces and wood-burning stoves..................
Oh, absolutely.
I thought this clown would be gone by this Thanksgiving. Probably not, at this point but I can’t imagine him being in office at this time next year.
The governors of these states should inform BiteMe if he does this they will mobilize their National Guards and send them to reopen the pipeline and if necessary with force that they will not allow their citizens to be murdered and freeze to death by him or any other SOB in Washington DC. You can’t take away the heating source to millions of people in the dead of winter and not call it premeditated murder.
Were Line 5 to close, the product would move via the next most efficient route(s). Motor carrier through the UP would be most efficent to Yoopers, but not to anyone else. Rail through Chicago would certainly be a possibility.
To this day I do not understand why the entire administration isn’t hanging upside-down from lampposts.
Leftist manipulations to destroy our country.
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