Whitmer, EGLE Say Line 5 Tunnel Permits Must Reflect Michigan Supreme Court Decision

LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Director Phil Roos say the state must consider the impact of a recent Michigan Supreme Court decision as it evaluates permits connected to Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 tunnel.

EGLE issued a resource permit for the proposed tunnel on July 15. State officials say a subsequent Michigan Supreme Court decision clarified that environmental harms and reasonable alternatives must be considered when reviewing the project.

Whitmer also called on Enbridge to pursue an alternative that would allow the existing dual pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac to be shut down without waiting for completion of the proposed tunnel.

The Line 5 project remains the subject of environmental, regulatory and legal disputes involving the State of Michigan, Enbridge and other stakeholders.

Source: Executive Office of the Governor and Michigan EGLE materials, September 9, 2026.