Line 5 community engagement: Community at the core
Helping to strengthen the health, safety and vibrancy of our shared communities, Enbridge relies on a collaborative approach to working with communities throughout our operational area. Learning their diverse perspectives and unique experiences also enables us to determine how we can best support their priorities and goals through the ongoing operation of Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac, including Enbridge’s planned construction of the Great Lake Tunnel Project.
In addition to dedicating resources in which our employees volunteer with not-for-profit organizations and first response agencies, Enbridge engages with local communities across the state. Fulfilling our commitment to meaningful engagement that serves to listen as well as inform, Enbridge:
- Hosts in-person and virtual meetings along with open houses, presentations and tours of Enbridge’s facilities.
- Meets with landowners, civic and business organizations, trade and business associations, Labor and local government.
- Seeks input from all 12 Michigan Tribes in regard to implementing safety and environmental measures that will protect the communities and waterways.
Recognizing the value of Line 5, 32 Michigan counties—19 where Enbridge has direct operations and 13 that also experience Line 5’s benefits—have passed resolutions supporting Line 5’s continued operation in the Straits.
Building for our shared community
While Michigan and four other states benefit from Line 5 in the Straits, hearing firsthand from the communities nearest Line 5 is important to us. Their input will help shape the next steps in our region’s energy future as Enbridge prepares to construct the Great Lakes Tunnel, which will:
- Encase in concrete a replacement section of Enbridge’s Line 5 deep below the lakebed in the Straits.
- Eliminate the chance of an anchor strike and virtually eliminate the chance of a release.
- Accommodate other utilities, such as fiber optic cables for internet connectivity, while allowing enough space for Enbridge to maintain the Tunnel and Line 5.
Approximately 70% of Michiganders support the critical modernization project for Line 5, which safely transports up to 540,000 barrels per day of light crude oil, light synthetic crude and natural gas liquids.
In addition to gasoline, diesel and other fuels, product from Line 5 provides propane for heat, as well as the raw material used in the manufacture of more than 6,000 products, including smartphones, computers, televisions, medicine, cosmetics, eyewear, recreational equipment, clothing, bicycles, and vehicles, to name a few.
Resources
To foster engagement and address questions about Line 5 and the Great Lakes Tunnel, Enbridge offers various resources, including:
- Enbridge Informational Center: Opened in 2021 in St. Ignace, MI, the Center provides residents, visitors to the area and other stakeholders opportunity to learn about the history of Line 5, the geography of the Straits and the Great Lakes Tunnel—a dimensional mural of which adorns the back wall of the Center and provides an ideal backdrop for photos.
- Virtual Open House: Guests may take at their convenience a 360-degree tour, visiting each station (e.g., safety, environmental, construction) or only the one of greatest interest to them. They also may submit questions about Line 5.
For additional information, call toll free 1-855-869-8209 or send an e-mail to us at line5info@enbridge.com.
