Beaver County Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on Aug. 26.
Why should Beaver County residents and businesses care about a pipeline dispute in Michigan? Because what happens there could affect fuel supplies and prices here.
In November 2020, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer threatened to shut down an underwater pipeline between Michigan and Canada by unilaterally terminating an easement that had been in place since 1953. Known simply as Line 5, the pipeline transports up to 540,000 barrels per day of light crude oil, light synthetic crude, and natural gas liquids (NGLs) to heat homes and businesses, fuel vehicles, and power industry not only in Michigan, but also in parts of Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
A Line 5 shutdown would cause a shortfall of 14.7 million gallons of transportation fuel a day --- 45 percent of the current supply that Enbridge, the pipeline owner, delivers in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario and Quebec. Locally, Line 5 supplies the Toledo refineries that provide 66 percent of the aviation fuel to Pittsburgh International Airport. Imagine the disruption, with many airlines already facing supply constraints. Some of the Live 5 product also makes its way to United Refining Co. in Warren, Pa., where it is refined and distributed for sale as gasoline and other fuels across our region.
So yes, a pipeline dispute in Michigan has big consequences for all of us in western Pennsylvania. Abruptly shutting down Line 5 would disrupt fuel supplies and push prices higher. Fortunately, the shutdown hasn’t occurred and the pipeline remains operational, as do negotiations between Michigan and the company and the U.S. and Canada. Line 5 demonstrates how connected we are.
For more information, visit https://www.enbridge.com/line5 or contact partner Kurt Knaus of the Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance directly at E: kurt@paallianceforenergy.com; P: 717-571-5687.
Original source can be found here.
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