After constantly seeing Enbridge’s misleading newspaper ads, some balance regarding pipelines like Line 3 seems appropriate.
Pipelines leak, like Enbridge pipes in 2010 Kalamazoo (over 1,000,000 gallons, $1,400,000,000 to “clean up”) and 1991 Grand Rapids (1,700,000 gallons spilled).
Pipelines require the use of private lands, willing or not, even treaty protected tribal lands. Tribal inclusion - my foot.
There is never just one pipeline, there are now six in the corridor that passes by Cass Lake.
Permits for pipelines are influenced by politicians (Gov. Walz’s number is 651-201-3400) who often accept campaign financing from companies like Enbridge. Regulatory agencies know their budgets are vulnerable if they hinder financiers' projects. Industry having remote control of government agencies in this manner is known as regulatory capture.
America is swimming in domestic crude and is set to again be the world’s leading producer of crude oil. Canada is the leading importer of American oil. Line 3 only makes sense if you know Canadian oil interests have but one real option for market - the refineries in America that can handle the low grade tar sand, and Koch Industries gets it on the cheap because they really do have the Canadians “over the barrel." Line 3 would really be an “economic boost” for corporations like Enbridge and Koch Industries, if Minnesota will again shoulder the liability.
Burning petroleum creates environmental problems, and many of our lakes are now mercury impaired because of this burning. MPCA’s Impaired Waters List now includes over 3.5 million acres of Minnesota water as mercury impaired. Fish dinner, anyone?
Big energy companies are investing in renewable energy operations. Will oil still be important? Yes, but only diminishingly so, as one stays riding a tired horse until a fresh one is available.
Mike Tauber,
Backus
