LANSING, Mich. (Great Lakes News) – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared an energy emergency over the weekend following Michigan’s cold snap.
Whitmer is allowing commercial trucks which carry propane to remain on the roads past their daily limits. Much of the state saw temperatures hovering around zero degrees, with many communities dipping below that mark during the month of February.
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In a press release, Whitmer stated, “Our top priority right now is ensuring that Michigan families and businesses have the home heating fuel we need to stay warm.”
Meanwhile, Whitmer’s move is in stark contrast to her administration’s call to shut down Enbridge Energy’s Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac. The pipeline has carried propane to homes and businesses all over the state for 68 years. In particular, Upper Peninsula residents would be left in the cold if Whitmer gets her way.
Whitmer has not proposed a backup plan to keep Michigan residents warm despite her push to shut down the pipeline by May.
Rich Studley with The Michigan Chamber of Commerce called out Whitmer’s cognitive dissonance.
“It’s ironic that the governor declared an energy emergency due to delivery delays and difficulty in obtaining propane,” he said. “At the same time, this is an administration who has pledged to do everything they can to shut down Line 5.”
Studley added, “Instead of a temporary energy emergency we’d have a permanent energy emergency.”
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Whitmer’s energy emergency executive order remains in effect until February 28th.
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