Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Pushes Enbridge Pipeline Shutdown as U.S. Faces National Gas Shortage
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 31: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during a drive-in campaign rally with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama at Belle Isle on October 31, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. Biden is campaigning with Obama on Saturday in Michigan, a battleground state that President Donald Trump narrowly won in 2016. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Amid the national gas shortage the U.S. is facing, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer continues her pursuit to shut down the Enbridge pipeline.

In a Washington Post op-ed on Friday, the Democrat Governor explained that the Line 5 pipeline, which was owned and operated by Enbridge Inc., has pumped crude oil for 70 years through the cross-section of Lake Michigan and Huron and the Straits of Mackinac. The Michigan Governor also mentioned that the two 4.5 mile sections are ticking time bombs in the area.

According to Fox News, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer stated that oil and water do not mix, especially when the latter involves the Great Lakes. She mentioned that it is the repository of more than 20 percent of the fresh water in the world.

Whitmer also added that she is taking every action that she can have to shut them down to protect the two Great Lakes. She also shared that she wants to protect jobs that depend on them.

Line 5 is part of a network that moves crude oil and other petroleum products from Western Canada. It transports around 540,000 barrels daily.

Also, Whitmer mentioned that the incident in 2010 alerted the whole nation because of the dangers imposed by a possible oil spill after Line 6B of the Enbridge pipeline ruptured is what she is attempting to avoid.

However, the recent Colonial Pipeline hack, which shut down the entire 5,500-mile stretch and caused the scramble at the gas pump, drove prices to record highs and caused major shortages. Reports even mentioned that a gas station raised its regular gas prices to $7 per gallon.

In November, Whitmer filed a lawsuit against Enbridge that notifies the state of Michigan that it would allow the pipeline 180 days to cap oil flow operations. The governor threatened to disgorge the company of all profits unjustly earned upon refusal to comply. But Enbridge replied that they will continue pumping until a court orders them to stop.

Whitmer also concluded that running pipelines through the water of the Great Lakes is and always has been a dangerous threat. She also emphasized that she will not sit idle as the time bomb keeps ticking.

Enbridge's Response

Enbridge spokesman Jesse Semko mentioned in a statement that they will not stop operating the pipeline unless they received an order from a court or their regulator to do so. But they view it as "unlikely to happen," iPolitics reported.

The company spokesman also mentioned that Line 5 is operating safely, reliably, and is in compliance with the law. Even the Canadian government filed an objection with the court on Tuesday, which was joined by the attorneys general of Ohio and Louisiana, and chambers of commerce in Canada and the U.S., PBS reported.

The Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan said Thursday during the question period in the House of Common that it is a critical energy link.