New court documents in Michigan show that shutting down the Line 5 pipelines, which run under the Straits of Mackinac, would have a negligible impact on the cost of gasoline.

The State of Michigan ordered the pipelines to be closed more than a year ago, but the Canadian gas company Enbridge Energy maintains that would lead to major energy disruptions in the region.

A court document from Neil K. Earnest, an energy-industry consultant hired by Enbridge, reveals an estimate that the increase to gas prices would be half of 1 cent per gallon.

Debbie Chizewer, managing attorney with Earthjustice, represents Bay Mills Indian Community - which she noted has depended on the Straits of Mackinac for centuries.

"Shutting down Line 5 will have almost no impact on gas prices," said Chizewer. "But it will speed the inevitable transition to clean energy and protect communities like Bay Mills from the disastrous consequences of climate change."

Enbridge Spokesperson Ryan Duffy says the increase of half a penny does not include the cost of job losses to the Michigan economy if Line 5 is shut down - and he notes that estimate is for after replacement infrastructure is in place.

He adds that the war in Ukraine makes this a fraught time to consider closing oil pipelines.

Douglas Jester, managing partner of 5 Lakes Energy, said the document shows the cost of propane will increase by about 9 cents per gallon, but he pointed out that Canada also has been developing pipelines to ship propane to world markets.

He said that would have a larger impact on prices than the closure of Line 5.

"Due to reductions in gasoline demand," said Jester, "due to electric-vehicle adoption and smart switching from propane to heat pumps, will more than make up for the price increases from closing Line 5."

Advocates for the Great Lakes urge President Joe Biden to stand with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to activate an orderly shutdown of the pipelines.

They say a spill from Line 5 would cost the Great Lakes billions in damages, threaten thousands of species of wildlife and put drinking water at risk.

A Michigan group is speaking out after a top congressional leader's comment that lawmakers will most likely scrap the $7,500 federal tax credit for buying electric vehicles.

Ending the tax credit could deal a major blow to both the EV market and the country's clean-energy goals. Michigan automakers and suppliers have pumped more than $30 billion into the state's EV industry since 2020.

Jane McCurry, executive director of Clean Fuels Michigan, said her group joined several local and national nonprofits in signing a letter to the U.S. House Transportation Committee in support of the EV tax credits.

"Demonstrating that it's not just industry, not just individuals," she said, "but large nonprofits and advocacy groups that really care about continuing to show support for the clean mobility transition."

Despite growing Republican support for EV tax credits, some GOP senators have introduced the ELITE Vehicles Act. It would eliminate the $7,500 credit, a $4,000 credit for buying used EVs, and charging-station incentives. The senators have argued these are luxury cars and that taxpayers shouldn't foot the bill for incentives.

McCurry said it isn't just about cutting incentives. She said there are also new disincentives being pushed in Lansing and Washington, D.C. - including a proposal to increase the gas tax from 31 cents to 51 cents, which would hike EV fees.

"Because of the way that the EV registration fee in Michigan is designed, that would increase our EV registration fee by $100," she said, "and that would make Michigan's EV registration tax the highest in the country."

McCurry said her group, along with 70 companies, is working to bring back the Competitive Fuels Act in Michigan. It would reward cleaner, more innovative fuels based on how environmentally friendly they are. By 2030, hybrid or electric vehicles will be more than half of all vehicle sales in Michigan, according to the state.

Nonprofits, businesses, organizers and leaders have signed a letter calling for more climate solutions in Arizona and around the country. They claim the climate crisis is here, and say action is needed now more than ever.

Research shows most Arizonans are worried about the consequences of climate change on their own lives, and they want more renewable energy sources.

As the Trump administration takes steps to roll back environmental protections and boost domestic oil and gas production, people such as Gloria Walton, president and CEO of The Solutions Project, argue too much is at stake. Her organization is among 150 partners pledging renewed commitments to advancing climate solutions - especially from communities of color.

Walton said these are the areas disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, from their proximity to industry pollution to a lack of infrastructure to deal with extreme weather events.

"Frontline communities are literally taking a proactive stance to addressing the climate crisis, and they're thinking about the collective creativity that can change the material conditions when we work together," she said. "And they're thinking about the hope and possibility of new systems that can be created that benefit people, versus corporations."

The Solutions Project works with cooperatives and community organizers to cultivate policy and campaign wins, which Walton said work to fill in the gaps the current administration is not.

Historically, said Judith LeBlanc, executive director of the community organization Native Organizers Alliance, their advocacy work has been about defending and protecting natural resources, but added that the approach has changed in recent years.

"But what we've been moving in the direction of for eight, nine years - since Standing Rock, really," she said, "is putting forward solutions, generating possible ways to continue to build up the infrastructure for rural, and therefore our reservations."

LeBlanc said Indigenous stewards understand their inherent role and legal responsibility to take care of lands and waters for all. She added that organizing, engaging and mobilizing communities is key, "since the majority opinion is, 'Let's get 'er done, let's take care of Mother Earth, let's invest' - especially by registered voters, who play a big role in shaping government policy."

A new interactive map reveals how recent federal investments from the Inflation Reduction Act are driving clean-energy and climate-resiliency projects in Pennsylvania.

The tool highlights renewable-energy upgrades and sustainability efforts made possible by more than $3 billion in federal funding.

Flora Cardoni - deputy director of the PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center - said the new map, called "Renewable Energy Success Stories in the Keystone State," reveals federally funded clean-energy projects across Pennsylvania - from nonprofits such as worship centers to farmers taking advantage of direct payments to plant trees, go solar, and improve energy efficiency.

"The Tulpa Canal Farm, which is a dairy farm in Berks County, they received a Clean Energy grant to install about 400 solar panels, which is great," said Cardoni. "It's expected to save the farm about $15,000 in energy costs each year."

Cardoni said efforts by the Trump administration and some members of Congress to repeal the tax incentives could jeopardize these investments.

However, she added that nonprofits, businesses and homeowners can still get 30% back in federal tax credits for installing solar panels.

She said those incentives could be repealed soon, with a possible vote in Congress by next Monday, May 12.

Incentives have enabled Pennsylvanians to reduce energy costs, protect their health and environment, and move toward greater energy independence.

Cardoni said the map highlights clean-energy projects across Pennsylvania, including another business that's saving about $15,000 a year through improved energy efficiency.

"Hall industries in Lawrence County, which is a machining and fabrication company in Ellwood City," said Cardoni, "and they are using federal Clean Energy funding to install energy-efficient LED lighting, which should lower their energy use by about 14%."

She pointed out that Harley-Davidson is expanding and upgrading its York County facility to build more energy-efficient electric motorcycles and cut waste from the painting process.

The project is part of an $89 million grant.




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