Enbridge says still willing to talk on Line 5, despite Michigan’s frustration

Oct 1, 2021 | 9:23 AM

WASHINGTON — Enbridge Inc. says it remains committed to a mediated settlement of its Line 5 dispute, even though the state of Michigan has given up on the talks. 

The Calgary-based pipeline giant says both sides are legally obliged to engage in good-faith efforts to resolve the long-running dispute over the cross-border line, a key energy artery that crosses the Great Lakes. 

Court documents show the state has effectively abandoned the process, with “no desire” to continue with mediation.

But the status of those talks remains unclear: in a written ruling late last month, U.S. District Court Judge Janet Neff described the process as “at least at a standstill.”