The Biden Administration admitted today that they are studying shutting down the Line 5 pipeline in Michigan, a move that would almost certainly lead to exploding fuel prices in the Midwest. Fox News. Spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said reports that the administration was planning to shut down the pipeline were "false" but did say that the issue was being studied by the Army Corp of Engineers for environmental impact. There have been talks about replacing the pipeline, which is the source of a dispute between Michigan and Canada, but this is unrelated to the issue. The pipeline caries 540,000 barrels of oil a day from Canada. With energy prices surging people are afraid that shutting down the pipeline would cause even more economic damage.
The Embridge Line 5 Pipeline in Read. RetireLine5.org
My Comment:
I should point out that I live in Wisconsin so I am not anywhere near objective on this issue. Indeed, this seems like a dagger pointed at our throats and I am angry that this is even being proposed, let alone be studied.
The core of this dispute is the environmental impact of the line. In general environmentalists hate fuel lines period. Which forces fuel to be transported via train and truck, which increased the costs, fuel use and environmental impact. In short it is nonsense.
An actual concern is that the pipeline could leak and given it's location between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron that would be a problem. But it one that is easily solved by regular maintenance. I think the chances of a pipeline leak is extremely low. And it's not like the alternate routes are much better in that respect.
What is really concerning about this is that it is causing an international incident with Canada. Canada is dependent on the United States and its fuel imports for much of its economy. Closing this line would cause them untold economic damage. It's not something they would go to war over but it is something that will sour our relationship with them and make it much more difficult to gain concessions from them on other issues. Given my extremely low opinion of Canada's current leadership and the electorate that hasn't tarred and feathered him, I do feel a bit of schadenfreude here, but still, it's not wise to piss off one of our stronger allies for basically no reason.
I have said before that if Biden's Administration was actively making war on the lower and middle classes you wouldn't be able to tell the difference from what he is actually doing right now. My guess is that he's mostly incompetent but I can't help but see malice in trying to shut down Line 5. Gas prices are high enough already and other than rent it's one of people's biggest expenses. I know I have been paying about $10 more each fuel up and that has only been going up.
This has trickle down effects on the entire economy. Everything that is transported gets more expensive when fuel prices go up. And people have a lot less money to spend on goods and services if they are putting a large portion of their paychecks into their gas tanks or home heating bills. It is a huge drain on the economy.
And our economy is in shambles right now anyways. Not only are energy prices going up, inflation is as well. Plus we are in a nationwide logistics disaster with goods sitting in ports for weeks and shortages showing up everywhere. Putting more pressure on a system that looks close to total collapse seems absolutely stupid, as if their goal is to destroy the United States and its economy.
Finally, I have to say that all of this was unnecessary. Under President Trump our fuel prices were low, production was up and we were energy independent. Indeed, we were so energy independent that we were actually exporting energy, and making a mint at it too. But now? It's amazing how much damage Biden and his administration has done.
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