April 23 2025.
Great Lakes Michigan Jobs Coalition Stands Together to Back Construction of the Great Lakes Tunnel.
Labor unions and workforce organizations representing workers, job creators, and industry leaders in Michigan and across the Midwest applauded the decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to add the Great Lakes Tunnel permitting process to a list of projects worthy of urgent attention. “Michigan workers back Line 5 and we support construction of the Great Lakes Tunnel,” said Brent Pilarski, Business Manager for the Michigan Laborers District Council. “This is about jobs. It’s about wages. It’s about affordable energy. It’s time to move the permitting process forward so we can move this project forward.”
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. 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.” Line 5 delivers up to 23 million gallons per day of the fuel Michigan and surrounding states use to gas up their cars, power their equipment at work, and create jobs.
“Enbridge applied for permits to build the Tunnel years ago, so we’re excited to see signs of movement from the regulators who’ve been reviewing the project,” said Derek Dalling, Executive Director of the Michigan Propane Gas Association. “We’re confident Corps will do the right thing and green light this critical energy infrastructure project. Line 5 is safe and it will be even safer inside a state-of-the-art Great Lakes Tunnel.”
Leading Michigan voices from labor, business and industry formed the Great Lakes Michigan Jobs coalition. 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.
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. To learn more about the coalition and the Great Lakes Tunnel project, visit GreatLakesMichiganJobs.com.
As Independent Journalists we published this press release to report both sides views of the issue of the Enbridge Line 5 Project.
As previously reported it appears this issue will most likely be decided by the Courts.
Photo Credit - Image of Mackinac Bridge taken by Scott Shields Photography posted by Visit Sault Ste. Marie.
