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Rep Joseph Bellino
Rep. Bellino opposed to governor’s order to shut down Line 5
RELEASE|November 14, 2020

State Rep. Joe Bellino, of Monroe, today said he is strongly opposed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s recent order to shut down Line 5 by May 2021, saying this will harm thousands upon thousands of Michigan families.

“Michigan’s energy security is no place for political games,” Bellino said. “And regardless of the environmental risks the governor quotes as her reason for doing this, to do it in a manner that has no plan to ensure Michigan families and job providers will be able to continue accessing the energy resources they rely on each and every day is wholly irresponsible.”

Bellino, who serves as chairman of the House Energy Committee, said the agreement reached between state leaders and Enbridge in 2018 to bury Line 5 in a tunnel deep under the Straits of Mackinac is the best solution to ensure the Great Lakes and Michigan’s natural resources are protected while also transporting critical energy resources.  The pipeline is the source for much of the sweet crude used by refineries in Ohio, including one in Northern Ohio that employs many Michigan residents and makes aviation fuel that is critical for the Detroit Metro Airport. In addition, the Line 5 tunnel project will create numerous good paying union jobs.

“Enbridge, which will foot the bill for the entire $500 million it will take for this project so Michigan’s taxpayers don’t lose a penny, has a solid plan in place,” Bellino said. “A concrete tunnel 100 feet into the Straits of Mackinac will not only protect our Great Lakes from harm’s way, but the company will also install additional cameras to ensure if anything does go wrong along the way, the problem will immediately be addressed. The company even has an emergency fund set up to cover these costs. Any concern you can think of has been addressed by Enbridge – there is no practical reason to shut down Line 5 and not carry on with this plan.”

Bellino said he doesn’t understand how anyone could think 2,000 trucks a day – the amount it would take to transport the liquid in the pipeline now – is more environmentally friendly than a pipeline buried 100 feet below the lake bed, in bed rock.

In addition, he said shutting down the Line could significantly increase the costs of propane, as well as jet fuel at the Detroit Metro Airport and gasoline. This would make heating homes, traveling and operating businesses more expensive all over the state.

“Decisions like this effect every resident of the state, whether they work in an industry fed by Line 5 or not,” Bellino said. “I am disappointed to see that the governor has not tried to work through this in a bipartisan manner. I hope the governor will take another hard look at this decision and realize it is truly not in the best interest of Michiganders everywhere.”

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