Line 5 supports Michigan Thanksgiving traditions

Nov. 24, 2020

Providing energy reliably and safely for 65+ years

With the COVID-19 pandemic still with us, Thanksgiving might look different for many this year, but one dependable, unassuming guest will be present at gatherings small and large.

Whether most realize it or not, Enbridge’s Line 5 dual-oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac provides the essential energy and products to manufacture hundreds of everyday goods. This includes items synonymous with Thanksgiving: from the upholstered furniture on which people sit, to the turkey baster that captures succulent juices, to the re-useable food containers and footballs on the field.

Products transported through Line 5 are a staple at helping Michiganders and the overall region celebrate Thanksgiving traditions.

In 2019 alone, 3.5 million attendees and 50 million television viewers watched the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Few likely realize, though, that polyurethane—a product of natural gas and oil—helps make the large inflatables that fill the sky every year.

Additionally, though fewer people are traveling over the river and through the woods this Thanksgiving compared to last, Line 5 is a key component in transporting the oil that not only fuels vehicles, but also helps in the manufacturing of them.  It also supplies the jet fuel to the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

“Throughout the year, our primary purpose is to deliver safely through Line 5 the energy and light crude oil on which people and refineries depend,” says Mike Moeller, director of Enbridge’s Great Lakes region. “It is extra special, though, knowing we play a role in holiday traditions and make a difference on the days it matters most, like Thanksgiving.”

To ensure that tradition continues, Enbridge is in the early stages of building the Great Lakes Tunnel, which will house a replacement section of Line 5 in the Straits.  The concrete tunnel placed deep under the lakebed virtually will eliminate the chance of a spill in Straits while providing the region a safe and reliable source of energy, according to Enbridge.