LANSING — Environmental groups are sharing their concerns about the proposed Line 5 tunnel project, saying that federal regulators failed to hold the proposal to proper standards.
The US Army Corps of Engineers released its preliminary environmental impact report Friday, saying that the project would provide benefits to northern Michigan and the safety of the great lakes.
Environmental advocates say the report did not give them confidence in the proposal to bore through the lakebed.
“The construction of the tunnel would just worsen the potential threat to the Great Lakes in several ways, including potentially causing damage to the existing pipelines while the… tunnel construction is underway,” said Anne Woiwode, secretary of Sierra Club Michigan.
The Army Corps says drilling would cause vibrations around the pipeline, but they don’t predict enough to cause structural damage.
Activists also say the fossil-fuel project runs counter to trends in renewable investment.
“Globally, if we look at trends, our reliance on fossil fuels is decreasing over time, and that’s what it should be doing in response to the climate crisis,” said Ashley Rudzinski, climate and environment program director for the Groundwork Center.
According to the energy nonprofit Ember, clean energy sources produced over 40% of the world’s electricity in 2024, largely boosted by a record year for solar and wind investments. ”The idea that we would be doing a blue-ribbon-cutting for 100-year oil infrastructure in the midst of a climate crisis is pretty baffling,” Rudzinski said.
The project was estimated in 2018 to cost $500 million, which increased to $750 million in 2022.
“Why are we building incredibly expensive, gigantic, long term fossil fuel infrastructure for product that not only causes harm, but is rapidly being phased out by renewables?” asked Denise Keele, executive director of the Michigan Climate Action Network.
Supporters of the project say the tunnel would provide a layer of protection against potential spills once complete.
“(The study) is a critical step forward in planning a project that will modernize energy infrastructure, protect the Great Lakes, and ensure long-term energy reliability for Michigan and the broader region,” said Ryan Duffy, Enbridge spokesperson, in a statement.
Marty Fittante, CEO of the InvestUP business group, said in a statement he believes the project is the right path forward for the region.
“Preparing to build this once-in-a-generation piece of energy infrastructure has taken years of study and thoughtful planning,” he said. “We’re proud to back construction.”
The project would still need approval from state regulators, who will likely open public comment opportunities in the coming months.