Michigan Supreme Court orders new Line 5 tunnel review

The Michigan Supreme Court threw out state approval of Enbridge Energy’s plan to build a tunnel for the Line 5 oil pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac.

The 6-1 decision sends the case back to the Michigan Public Service Commission, which approved the project in December 2023. The court ordered the commission to redo much of its environmental review.

The court said regulators used too narrow a review when they considered only the tunnel and did not address whether the project would keep Line 5 operating and create additional environmental risks elsewhere along the pipeline.

Justice Brian Zahra dissented in part, saying the majority gave too little deference to the expert regulator. Enbridge said it disagrees with the decision and remains committed to operating Line 5 safely.

Read the full story at wlns.com.