Michigan LCV condemns Whitmer approval of Line 5 tunnel permits 

Lansing, MI — The Michigan League of Conservation Voters (Michigan LCV) today condemned a decision by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her administration to approve permits for Enbridge Energy’s proposed Line 5 tunnel project beneath the Straits of Mackinac. Approval of the permits puts the Great Lakes, Michigan communities, Tribal sovereignty, and Michigan’s economy at risk.  

“Governor Gretchen Whitmer had the opportunity to put the health and safety of our Great Lakes first, but instead, backtracked on a promise she made to Michiganders and instead approved a dangerous project that threatens the drinking water for millions of people and our state’s Number One economic driver,” said Lisa Wozniak, president and CEO of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “Rather than doing everything she can to safeguard the Great Lakes, Governor Whitmer is enabling a Canadian oil company to saddle Michigan taxpayers with billions of dollars in financial liability if something goes wrong.  We condemn this action as a betrayal of the promise Gov. Whitmer made as a candidate to shut down Line 5.” 

Shutting down Line 5 was a signature environmental campaign promise when Gov. Whitmer first ran for election in 2018, pledging to “take action on the Line 5 pipeline on day one as governor.” It remained a recurring theme throughout her first term. In 2021, she stated, “So long as oil is flowing through the pipelines, there is a very real threat of a catastrophic oil spill in the Great Lakes.” In recent years, however, Gov. Whitmer has softened her stance on Line 5 and largely stayed quiet on the issue, leaving the majority of the continued fight to Attorney General Dana Nessel. 

Enbridge’s proposed tunnel project also threatens the treaty-protected rights of Tribal Nations who have stewarded the Great Lakes for thousands of years. The Straits of Mackinac are central to the fishing, hunting, and cultural practices protected under the 1836 Treaty of Washington. 

Tribal governments have consistently opposed the project, warning that an oil spill or construction-related damage could irreparably harm sacred waters, fisheries, and culturally significant sites. The Whitmer administration’s decision disrespects Tribal sovereignty, dishonors treaty obligations, and jeopardizes Indigenous cultural identity for current and future generations. 

The project still requires several other permits and requirements, including a federal permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with other conditions, before construction can proceed. In the days ahead, we urge all our elected leaders to use every tool possible to continue fighting this risky tunnel.