For this week’s segment, we have focused on providing context to material that claims to tell people things “they need to know” about Line 3

Fact Checked Article:

https://canadians.org/blog/10-things-you-need-know-about-line-3-pipeline

Fact Check Item #1:

“Enbridge spills are among the worst in history and the pipeline could bring major risks to water.

Many people know about the massive Kalamazoo spill. Less known is the spill in 1991 which spilled 1.3 million gallons.”

The Fact Check Reality #1:

A great deal of information is known about the spill in Grand Rapids, MN in the spring of 1991. Enbridge held numerous public news conferences to address questions, concerns, and updates related to the spill which were covered by many local and statewide news outlets.

 

Enbridge cooperated fully with all local agencies, state agencies, community groups, environmental groups, and other stakeholders to ensure that cleanup of the spill exceeded regulations and expectations and it did.  Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson applauded Enbridge and their efforts to quickly clean up the spill and the state was pleased with Enbridge’s performance and cooperation.

Fact Check Item #2:

“The economics of Line 3 don’t work – governments are approving pipelines that we don’t have oil for.

Anti-pipeline and anti-energy activist Winona Laduke cited a Globe and Mail article that explained that in approving Trans Mountain, Line 3, and Keystone, there actually is not enough oil for these pipelines. Why is the government investing billions on stranded assets …

The Fact Check Reality #2:

The six Enbridge pipelines across northern Minnesota are so full, oil is now being rationed. This hurts refineries across the Midwest including Flint Hills in Rosemount.

Enbridge wants to spend $2.6 billion to replace the aging and corroding Line 3 that would restore the line’s original capacity to safely transport oil. Line 3 today can only carry half of its original capacity while the need for oil products has remained steady.  The reduced capacity has created a challenge of customers needing more oil than the existing pipeline can deliver.  The result is rationing — or apportionment as it’s known in the oil business.  It means that pipeline customers have to wait to get the oil they need.  It is a situation that will just get worse at a time when demand for petroleum products is strong.

Flint Hills has spent about $750 million in upgrades at its Pine Bend facility over the past five years with the anticipation that replacing Line 3 will restore the line’s original capacity.  A replaced Line 3 would make sure there is the restored capacity from the Line 3 pipeline that will allow Flint Hills to continue to serve its customers with fuels and other products we need and depend on.

Government at the state or federal level is not investing one single dollar into the Line 3 Replacement project. Enbridge and the other companies associated with the replacement project have contractually binding commitments to ensure that transportation volumes through the pipelines are needed and based on demand.