I see Snyder reached a 'closed door' deal with Enbridge concerning the Line 5 fiasco. Enbridge is to build out, over the next 10 years at a cost of 50 million, a tunnel under the straits to carry a newly constructed Line 5. It will be 100 feet below the bed of the Straits and large enough to drive a vehicle through for inspection. Enbridge plans to offset the cost by 'leasing' the space to other utilities so they can receive rent payments.
My issue with it is, Line 5 stays in operation, unabated, for the next decade while the tunnel and new pipeline is constructed.
Enbridge stated that no tax dollars will be used for construction. I also have an issue with that. In as much as the State of Michigan receives no compensation from Line 5 whatsoever and all the crude from Line 5 goes to Sarnia, Ontario for Canadian consumption, not domestic consumption, I think Enbridge should be paying rent on the ground the pipeline takes up, based on gallons of flow per day.
They are getting a helluva deal right now and what happens if Line 5 pops it's cork in the next decade?
Issues to ponder.
Of course not a word about it in the Monroe News. It was however, in the Toledo Blade on the front page on Tuesday.
I sometimes wonder about the level of professionalism at the MN.