State Rep. Triston Cole of Mancelona today issued the following statement after an Ingham County judge ruled Enbridge must completely shut down both pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac, even though only one has been damaged:

“Shutting down both pipelines that carry natural gas liquids through national and international grounds is an enormous disruption to commerce. One Northern Michigan job provider who uses the pipeline to transport resources indicated that if Line 5 shuts down, he will have no choice but to ship oil on 75 to 100 large trucks per day destined for Marysville. Even then, they might have to shut his gas plant and stop producing propane.

“Propane is vital to many families in Northern Michigan because there are no natural gas lines in the rural areas where they live. Right now, people who rely on propane are preparing for next winter. If this shut down continues, the price of propane could soar so high our most vulnerable residents – the elderly and other residents with limited incomes – won’t be able to afford to heat their homes.”

###