Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Tim Walberg (MI-07) and fourteen of his House colleagues sent a letter to President Joe Biden outlining the consequences that would result from halting operations of Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline. Given the Biden Administration’s recent decision to revoke the Keystone XL pipeline permit, the members expressed concern about the potential for additional pipeline shutdowns that would harm our economy, environment, and immediate energy needs.
“The reduced fuel supply from shutting down Line 5 would permanently shutter refineries in Ohio and Michigan, resulting in the loss of billions of dollars in annual economic output, tens of thousands of jobs, and the elimination of 15 percent of northwest’s Ohio’s fuel supply and 43 percent of southeastern Michigan’s fuel supply,” the lawmakers wrote. “Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula would be especially harmed, as Line 5 supplies 65 percent of the propane used to heat homes in the region. Transportation hubs in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania would also be adversely affected, including Detroit Metropolitan Airport, which would lose at least 50 percent of its jet fuel supplies from refineries served by Line 5.”
The letter also highlighted the need to stay focused on defeating the coronavirus, rebuilding our economies, and fostering good-paying jobs and economic activity.
“Across America, pipeline construction and maintenance projects account for tens of thousands of family-supporting, skilled trade union jobs. It is estimated that the Great Lakes Tunnel project alone will need more than 2,000,000 work hours over the course of construction. Shutting down Line 5 and ultimately the Great lakes Tunnel project would have devastating consequences, threatening thousands of jobs, billions in economic output, and the safe supply and affordability of resources necessary to meet families’ and businesses’ most basic needs,” the lawmakers continued.
In addition to Walberg, the letter was signed by U.S. Reps. Jack Bergman (MI-01), Bob Latta (OH-05), Fred Upton (MI-06), Bill Johnson (OH-06), Brad Wenstrup (OH-02), Troy Balderson (OH-12), Lisa McClain (MI-10), Kelly Armstrong (ND-AL), Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Peter Meijer (MI-03), Bob Gibbs (OH-07), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), and Mike Gallagher (WI-08).
You can read the full letter here.
Tune into our local and state newscasts, anytime day or night, for this story and more.
#wlenradio #wlennews #lenaweenews