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FACT BRIEF

Does the Line 5 pipeline that crosses through Wisconsin provide oil only to Canada?

By Tom Kertscher
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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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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.