The report, commissioned and released Wednesday by the
"I recognize the threat that Line 5 really does pose and I'm aware of all the factors at play that really do set us up for an ecological disaster in the making," said
But Woodhouse said it's equally clear that
"We don't have all of that set up to completely shut down every pipeline right now," but the report provides options that would allow Line 5 to be closed with minimal impact, she said.
"I just wanted the public to know what the actual data says about our true dependence on this pipeline, and see if there was a viable way to shut it down that didn't have to compromise between protecting the
Critics of Line 5, including
Proponents call Line 5 a vital and indispensable source of energy, especially propane, for several Midwestern states, including
Line 78 extends across the southern part of the state to link
The report makes a case for upgrading Line 78 even further to carry the bulk of Line 5's crude-oil load, while the remainder — a best-case estimate of 119,000 barrels per day — could be handled by additional rail or marine tanker capacity, with only a minimal impact on the environment.
"The closure of Line 5 is inevitable — either through court order or due to a rupture," the report says, noting that either outcome would lead to energy shortages throughout the myriad regions and facilities that depend on it for energy.
"A better solution is a planned shutdown where
Line 78 is already operating at full capacity serving other customers, the company said in a statement, adding that only two of the pipelines in its Mainline network — Line 5 is one — can handle the natural gas liquids that are used to make the propane that comprises nearly half the demand in
"
"The one thing proved by this misguided plan is that a shutdown of Line 5 would have a significant and immediate impact on the region's energy supply, businesses and hard-working families in
The report says the two sections that comprise Line 78 are currently able to carry 570,000 and 500,000 barrels of oil per day, but could be upgraded to capacities of 800,000 and 525,000 respectively — what the report describes as the "ultimate design" scenario.
Line 5, by comparison, has a maximum daily capacity of 540,000 barrels, although neither pipeline is currently operating at full strength, the report notes. "This means spare capacity already exists within Line 78 to largely make up for the closure of Line 5."
The report says in the "constrained" Line 78 scenario, a Line 5 closure would leave a shortfall of 255,000 barrels per day to be made up elsewhere, while the shortfall shrinks to 119,000 barrels under the expanded-capacity model.
It estimates that two to three additional trains on routes already transporting oil could handle that additional 119,000 barrels, as could a single additional marine tanker. And it projects a nominal increase in the price of gasoline:
The plan, they argue, "would put the environment at risk as it would burn more fuel to transport energy, clog critical roads and rail lines and create unnecessary energy dislocations while raising prices."
The historic data for deliveries of crude oil and natural gas liquids to
As for the problem of natural gas liquids, there is already plenty of natural gas production and refining capacity in the region south of the border to more than meet that demand, Meyers said: "There's a significant resource that is being produced, and with growing volume."
This report by
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version said the report did not take into account Line 78's actual shipping volumes.
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