Thousands of Michiganders Ask EGLE to Grant Permits for Great Lakes Tunnel
Labor Unions, Economic Development, Energy Groups Representing over a Million Michigan Workers to Submit Comments Backing Line 5, Tunnel Construction
Lansing, Mich – The Great Lakes Michigan Jobs coalition this week is submitting the signatures of thousands of local residents asking permitters at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to grant permits for construction of the Great Lakes Tunnel.
Great Lakes Michigan Jobs members backing Line 5 represent more than a million Michigan workers and roughly 75,000 Michigan businesses.
This week marks the conclusion of a public comment period presented by EGLE to solicit input on the application by Enbridge to move a portion of Line 5 off the bottomland in the Straits of Mackinac into a state-of-the-art tunnel.
“We strongly support Line 5 and the Great Lakes Tunnel and urge you to grant the permits necessary to begin construction,” signers told EGLE. Since the permitting process began 5 years ago, Enbridge has conducted more than 40,000 hours of survey work in the Straits, providing their results to the Corps. This has been one of the most comprehensive project reviews in Michigan history.
“Let’s grant these permits,” said Operating Engineers 324 Business Manager and General Vice-President Douglas Stockwell. “The Great Lakes Tunnel will be built safely, and every analysis makes it clear – the Tunnel is the best solution for the Great Lakes and for Michigan jobs.”
Josh Lunger, vice president of government affairs at the Grand Rapids Chamber said “It’s rare to find a project as commonsense as the Great Lakes Tunnel - protecting both our energy supply and our Great Lakes. We rely on the reliable and affordable energy Line 5 provides our region every day and this is the safest way to ensure that it continues flowing long into the future.”
Said Mike Witkowski, Director of Environmental and Regulatory Policy at the Michigan Manufacturers Association: “Line 5 transports up to 23 million gallons of fuel each day—energy that powers Michigan’s manufacturing sector, supports regional supply chains, and keeps families and businesses moving. EGLE has heard from thousands of Michiganders who understand the importance of modernizing this infrastructure, and we’re confident those voices will be reflected in the final decision. It’s time to move forward with the Great Lakes Tunnel.”
“The time for debate is long over. It’s time for permits to be issued so the Great Lakes Tunnel project can finally move forward,” said Derek Dalling, executive director of the Michigan Propane Gas Association. “Public comments have been issued and the support for the project is strong. On behalf of our 351 members and the 600,000-plus homes, businesses, and cottages that rely on propane for clean, affordable energy, the Michigan Propane Gas Association urges regulators to finish the job and clear the path for the commonsense solution to our energy future.”
Michigan Laborers expressed their support, saying “The Great Lakes Tunnel means good-paying construction jobs for Michigan Laborers now and into the future, while maintaining reliable energy costs for families and businesses,” said Jeff Pilarski, business manager of Laborers Local 1098. “On behalf of our 14,000 members, we submitted public comment to regulators, urging swift action to issue permits so this commonsense project can finally get started.”
Mark Griffin, President of Michigan Petroleum Association agreed saying “Building the Great Lakes Tunnel will ensure that the already safe pipeline’s energy can keep flowing and become even safer, reducing the chance of a spill to “virtually zero” according to the state’s own research. This debate needs to be over and Michigan petroleum companies are ready to see the Great Lakes Tunnel become a reality. On behalf of our members, the Michigan Petroleum Association urges regulators to end the delays and issue permits so the project can move forward.”
Said Mike Alaimo, senior director of legislative and external affairs at the Michigan Chamber: “The Great Lakes Tunnel is the smart, forward-looking solution to make an already safe pipeline even safer. That’s why the Michigan Chamber, on behalf of our thousands of members across the state, supports this project and the permits needed to get it built. It’s time to move forward – ensuring affordable, reliable energy while protecting jobs and our Great Lakes for generations to come.”
UP Construction Council Executive Director Mike Smith echoed the need to approve permits: “The Great Lakes Tunnel is the commonsense solution to keep our Great Lakes pristine while ensuring our energy needs are met. The project means Michigan jobs and Michigan paychecks all without costing the state a time. The permitting process has been a long time coming and it’s time for regulators to finish the job so the project can finally begin.”
Small Business Association of Michigan President & CEO Brian Calley said: “Michigan small businesses rely on the affordable, reliable energy that Line 5 provides, and the Great Lakes Tunnel is the best way to ensure the energy security we all need while protecting our Great Lakes at the same time. SBAM urges regulators to approve permits and put an end to the delays so the project can finally commence.”
Said Jami Des Chenes, executive director of Michigan Chemistry Council: “Michiganders rely on items that come from Line 5’s energy resources to live their daily lives. The Great Lakes Tunnel is the commonsense way to ensure the affordable energy Line 5 provides continues flowing while protecting our Great Lakes. The Michigan Chemistry Council urges regulators to put an end to the delays by issuing permits so this project can go forward.”
“The Great Lakes Tunnel is essential to ensuring our families, homes and businesses get the energy they need. Building the Tunnel will protect the Great Lakes while ensuring energy remains affordable and reliable,” said Mary Myers, director of business development at Lake Superior Community Partnership. “This is not just an Upper Peninsula issue, it is critical to our whole state and that’s why Lake Superior Community Partnership urges regulators to approve permits for the Great Lakes Tunnel now.”
Residents across both peninsulas rely on Line 5 for affordable home heating fuel and much more. Job makers and workers rely on Line 5 for the fuel they need to make the products residents depend on, to provide good paying jobs, and to power their work sites. Line 5 delivers up to 23 million gallons per day of fuel Michigan and surrounding states use to gas up their cars, power their equipment at work, and create jobs.
The Great Lakes Tunnel energy infrastructure project was approved by the Michigan legislature and signed by the governor in 2018. Construction of the Tunnel is a matter of public law. State experts have concluded that the risk of a spill into the straits from the Tunnel is “virtually zero.”
Overwhelming majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents support construction of the Tunnel, believe it’s the best solution for Line 5, and want the state to move forward immediately with permitting for the project, according to recent survey results. Leading Michigan voices from labor, business and industry formed the Great Lakes Michigan Jobs coalition in 2019. They work together, encouraging state and federal agencies currently reviewing permit applications – and all Michiganders – to embrace the Tunnel project, and the lakes and jobs it protects.
Great Lakes Michigan Jobs is led by a diverse and nonpartisan leadership team, including Operating Engineers Local 324, Michigan Laborers, the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Detroit Regional Chamber, the Grand Rapids Chamber, Upper Peninsula Construction Council, InvestUP, the Michigan Manufacturers Association, the Michigan Chemistry Council, Lake Superior Community Partnership, the American Petroleum Institute Michigan, the Michigan Oil and Gas Association, the Michigan Petroleum Association and the Michigan Propane Gas Association, NFIB Michigan, the Small Business Association of Michigan, the Lansing Regional Chamber, Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce, Midland Business Alliance, and the Michigan Pipe Trades.
To learn more about the coalition and the Great Lakes Tunnel project, or to add your voice to the thousands of public comments being submitted asking the Army Corps to grant permits, visit GreatLakesMichiganJobs.com.