To the Journal editor:

As a local resident and Enbridge employee, I understand the concerns of our community regarding energy infrastructure, particularly when it comes to the Great Lakes. I want to encourage my neighbors that Enbridge is committed to the safety and environmental protection of our region while providing the reliable energy Michigan and the surrounding areas depend on daily.

The Great Lakes Tunnel project represents a solution that prioritizes both energy security and environmental protection. This tunnel places a new section of Line 5, in the tunnel, safely beneath the Straits of Mackinac, eliminating the risk of an anchor strike and virtually eliminating the potential of any release from Line 5 into the Straits. It will continue to deliver essential energy that millions of people rely on. Energy used in manufacturing, heating, and thousands of everyday products that support our local economy.

We recognize the responsibility we have to protect our Great Lakes. Enbridge has implemented the latest safety technologies and safeguards including the Enbridge Straits Maritime Operations Center which is staffed around the clock. The ESMOC acts as the nerve center for a suite of marine traffic safety systems put in place by Enbridge in the Straits to protect Line 5 from anchor strikes as work progresses on the company’s Great Lakes Tunnel Project.

As someone who lives and works in Michigan, I believe that the Great Lakes Tunnel is the best solution for providing our state with the energy it needs while preserving our environment for future generations.

LAUREN BROWN

Enbridge