Thanksgiving traditions rely on year-round essentials

Line 5 plays a special role in holiday

Nov. 16, 2022

An estimated 293 million people across the United States will consume approximately 46 million birds and spend $1.1 billion on the main course—turkey, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Turkey Federation.

Turkey or tofu, green bean casserole or candied yams, football games or movie classics, travel by plane, train or automobile—Thanksgiving traditions are as unique as those celebrating them, though have at least one commonality.

For more than a century, many traditions synonymous with Thanksgiving rely on oil and natural gas liquids, such as those transported through Enbridge Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac. In addition to the energy (both in molecules and emotional in some cases) necessary to cook the main course and many of the side dishes, product from Line 5 helps in the manufacture of ovens and refrigerators, and other traditional tools most people use in their annual Thanksgiving feast.

“The manufacture of the oven that cooks the turkey, the baster and oven-ready bag that help moisten it and the storage containers that protect next-day leftovers all rely on product transported safety each day through Line 5,” said Mike Moeller, Enbridge’s director of the Great Lakes Region.

“Line 5 also is essential to manufacturing decorative dinnerware, as well as the bakeware that holds the coveted pumpkin pie and the flatscreen television many will watch throughout the day.”

With approximately 70% of Americans planning to travel during the week of Thanksgiving, Line 5 also provides the fuel that helps connect them with family and friends.

In addition to the jet fuel that helps the Detroit Metropolitan Airport manage approximately 1,100 flights per day, product from Line 5 provides diesel and the raw material essential to manufacturing cars, trucks, planes and trains that keep people on the move all year.

“Well beyond Thanksgiving, Michigan and the region depend on Line 5,” said Moeller.

“We are committed to continuing to operate Line 5 safely, which is why we are constructing the Great Lakes Tunnel Project.

“On behalf of the Line 5 team, we wish everyone a safe Thanksgiving—enjoying the traditions they hold most dear.”