What would happen if Line 5 were shut down?

Our Answer

For more than 70 years, Line 5 has delivered the light oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) that heat homes and businesses, fuel vehicles and power industry. Shutting down Line 5 would have immediate and severe consequences on the economies of Michigan, Ohio, Ontario, and elsewhere.

Refineries served by Enbridge in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario and Quebec would receive approximately 45% less crude from Enbridge than their current demand. Michigan would face a 756,000-US-gallons-per-day propane supply shortage, since there are no short-term alternatives for transporting NGL to market.

According to PBF Energy, which operates one of two refineries in Toledo:

• A Line 5 shutdown would put Ohio refineries at risk. The closure of one of those refineries could result in the loss of $5.4 billion in annual economic output to Ohio and southeast Michigan, and the loss of thousands of direct and contracted skilled trades jobs.
• A Line 5 shutdown would compromise crude supply to 10 refineries in the region to varying degrees, directly affecting fuel prices.
• Closing Line 5 would hurt Ohio and Michigan economies, and threaten union jobs.
• There are no viable options for replacing the volume of light crude delivered by Line 5, with rail able to provide less than 10% of that volume.
• A Line 5 shutdown puts at least 15% of northwest Ohio’s fuel supply at risk, as well as more than half of the jet fuel supplies for the Detroit Metro Airport.