What would happen if Line 5 were shut down?
Our Answer
For more than 65 years, Line 5 has delivered the light oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) that heat homes and businesses, fuel vehicles and power industry. Shutting down Line 5, even temporarily, would have immediate and severe consequences on the economies of Michigan, Ohio, Ontario, and elsewhere.
Refineries served by Enbridge in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario and Quebec would receive approximately 45% less crude from Enbridge than their current demand. Michigan would face a 756,000-US-gallons-per-day propane supply shortage, since there are no short-term alternatives for transporting NGL to market.
According to PBF Energy, which operates one of two refineries in Toledo:
- A Line 5 shutdown would put Ohio refineries at risk. The closure of one of those refineries could result in the loss of $5.4 billion in annual economic output to Ohio and southeast Michigan, and the loss of thousands of direct and contracted skilled trades jobs.
- A Line 5 shutdown would compromise crude supply to 10 refineries in the region to varying degrees, directly affecting fuel prices.
- Closing Line 5 would hurt Ohio and Michigan economies, and threaten union jobs.
- There are no viable options for replacing the volume of light crude delivered by Line 5, with rail able to provide less than 10% of that volume.
- A Line 5 shutdown puts at least 15% of northwest Ohio’s fuel supply at risk, as well as more than half of the jet fuel supplies for the Detroit Metro Airport.
