WASHINGTON-
A Michigan judge has ruled in favor of Enbridge Inc. in the company’s longstanding dispute with the state over the Line 5 cross-border pipeline.
In her ruling, Judge Janet Neff said the case belonged in federal court – a blow to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s attempt to shut down the pipeline.
This is the second time in nine months that Neff has sided with Enbridge on the issue of jurisdiction.
Whitmer has been trying since November 2020 to close Line 5 over fears of a spill in the Strait of Mackinac, where the pipeline crosses the Great Lakes.
Proponents, including the federal government of Canada, call Line 5 a vital and much-needed power source for Ontario, Quebec and several Midwestern states.
Environmental activists fear an anchor strike or technical failure could trigger a disaster in one of the region’s most important watersheds.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 18, 2022.