What was involved in Enbridge's agreement with former Gov. Rick Snyder?

Our Answer

In 2018, then-Gov. Rick Snyder and the Michigan Legislature agreed to the Great Lakes Tunnel project in partnership with Line 5 operators. The tunnel will be built with funding provided by Enbridge, with construction and long-term maintenance overseen by the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority, which will own the new tunnel.

Under the agreement, payments and liability for future repairs and maintenance issues will remain with Enbridge, which is required to keep ample funds on hand.

In other words, the state is protected from paying for any costs associated with the tunnel construction, pipeline replacement or ongoing operations, including the unlikely event of a spill.