The Mackinac Bridge in the Straits of Mackinac

MiCAN and the Environmental Law and Policy Center are challenging the Michigan Public Service Commission's approval of Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel project. The proposed tunnel threatens the Great Lakes, exacerbates the climate crisis, and undermines Michigan’s clean energy goals. Let’s demand accountability and advocate for a sustainable future.

Join us in standing up for Michigan’s natural resources, public health, and climate by signing this important letter of support.

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Dear Governor Whitmer and Michigan Policymakers,

We, the undersigned organizations, community leaders, and residents, write to express our strong support of the key concerns outlined by the Michigan Climate Action Network (MiCAN) & the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) in their appeal of the Michigan Public Service Commission's (MPSC) approval of the proposed Enbridge Line 5 tunnel project under the Straits of Mackinac. 

Read the Legal Brief Here

Despite undeniable evidence of the urgent need to transition to clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the MPSC’s decision failed to align with Michigan’s public policy goals and meet the legal requirements of the Michigan Environmental Protection Act (MEPA). This project endangers our natural resources, undermines climate action, and puts the Great Lakes at unnecessary risk of catastrophic damage.

Key Concerns with the Line 5 Tunnel Project

  1. Environmental and Climate Risks:
    • The project will lead to a net increase in 27 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually, exacerbating the climate crisis and costing society at least $41 billion in damages.
    • Despite receiving detailed testimony from climate experts, the MPSC failed to adopt or apply a standard methodology to quantify or value these impacts.
  2. Lack of Consideration of Alternatives:
    • Under MEPA, the MPSC was required to explore feasible and prudent alternatives to the tunnel project. However, these alternatives, such as transitioning away from fossil fuels, were not meaningfully considered. The MPSC’s approval ignored this statutory requirement, making its decision unlawful.
    • MEPA prohibits projects that pollute, impair, or destroy Michigan’s natural resources unless no viable alternatives exist. The MPSC must at least consider what happens if the oil pipeline crossing the Straits is shut down with no tunnel and then decide whether the environmental impacts of that alternative are better than the impacts from the tunnel project.
  3. Failure to Uphold Public Policy:
    • Michigan has committed to ambitious clean energy goals, including achieving 100% clean energy by 2040. Approving new fossil fuel infrastructure directly contradicts these commitments.
    • The Great Lakes, which provide millions of people with drinking water, jobs, and recreation, are already at risk from climate change. Additional fossil fuel infrastructure only exacerbates these threats.

Our Request

We call on Michigan’s leaders and policymakers to:

  • Prevent the Line 5 tunnel project, which will pollute and degrade Michigan’s natural environment, because it violates MEPA and undermines Michigan’s public policy.
  • Ensure that all future infrastructure projects align with Michigan’s clean energy goals and the protection of public health and the environment.
  • Act to protect the Great Lakes and Michigan communities from the harmful impacts of fossil fuels.

As stewards of one of the world’s most precious freshwater resources, Michigan is responsible for leading by example. Together, we must prioritize a safe, sustainable, and equitable future for all.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Signatures