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Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

No.

Line 5 carries oil and and natural gas liquids from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario, serving oil refineries in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario and Quebec, according to Enbridge, the owner.

The natural gas liquids carried by the pipeline are refined and supply 55% of Michigan’s statewide propane needs, the Canadian company says.

The most recent estimate by the Michigan Public Service Commission, in 2020, said one production facility, Rapid River, receives all of its natural gas liquids from Line 5 and provides 87.6% of the Upper Peninsula’s propane demand.

On Dec. 1, 2023, Enbridge won commission approval to build a tunnel underneath the Straits of Mackinac to replace part of Line 5.

In Wisconsin Line 5 crosses through 12 miles of the Bad River Reservation of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Enbridge is proposing a relocation around the reservation within Ashland, Bayfield and Iron counties.

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Enbridge: Line 5

Enbridge: About Line 5

State of Michigan: Upper Peninsula Energy Task Force Committee Recommendations

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Michigan Public Service Commission approves Enbridge Line 5 permit for tunnel under Straits of Mackinac

Wisconsin DNR: Enbridge Pipeline Projects in Wisconsin

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Tom Kertscher joined as a Wisconsin Watch fact checker in January 2023 and contributes to our collaboration with the The Gigafact Project to fight misinformation online. Kertscher is a former longtime newspaper reporter, including at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who has worked as a self-employed journalist since 2019. His gigs include contributing writer for Milwaukee Magazine and sports freelancer for The Associated Press.