Update 4:15 pm: Eric Dresden at MLive has confirmed with a Rover spokesperson that the pipeline is still planned to run through Lenawee and Washtenaw counties. See the comments section of the MLive article linked below.
Update: In an earlier version of this post, we said that Rover would not need to build any new pipeline in Michigan. But that’s not entirely clear. The announcement states that they are eliminating the segments through Shiawasee, Genessee, Lapeer, Oakland, St. Clair, and Macomb counties. What that means for Lenawee, Washtenaw, and Livingston counties remains uncertain. We apologize for the confusion. MLive has more on the story.
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Thanks to one of our friends, we’ve gotten to the bottom of today’s ET Rover news. We’re still thinking through and digesting the full implications of the matter, but preliminarily we can say that it is very, very good news: it means that Rover will not need to build 110 miles of their proposed new pipeline infrastructure here. For many landowners, that is cause for celebration!
According to their press release, Rover has struck a deal with Vector Pipeline to use its existing infrastructure to transport oil through Michigan (many readers of this blog have the Vector line on their properties). So Rover and Enbridge have reunited: Vector, you may recall, is owned (in part) by Enbridge.
We believe Rover never would have sought this agreement were it not for the loud voices of Michigan citizens and the excellent leadership and action of so many local government officials. Thanks and congratulations to all!
Here is the press release:
FINALLY! Thank you Jeff for all your help and education through this horrible process!
I did not mean to be so hasty in the elation of my own joy and ignore what this means for those in counties south of here. I hope they find a resolution to this evil as well. Keep pushing and writing FERC! Organize groups and educate landwoners in youf area why they need to fight this. I have no doubt that this is why FERC stood resolute for Rover to use existing ROWs. We did it! YOU can do it! Do not give up!
Agreed, Dee!!
Thank you, Jeff! You have been inspirational and I hope that Jesse and I can continue to educate others that are in the same situation. We are crying tears of joy.
What a relief. I will still be holding my breath for awhile to make sure this is true. This was such a traumatic experience – it is going to take awhile to relax. Thank God and all those that have been working to stop this pipeline. I now feel bad for all the other people that have to deal with these pipelines or have dealt with them. I have now walked in their shoes and can feel their pain.
Thanks, everyone. And it appears that I was a little bit hasty. Eric Dresden at MLive appears to have confirmed that the pipeline will still run through Lenawee and Washtenaw before it meets Vector in Livingston county. So the victory, while substantial, is nevertheless partial.
Ah, I was wondering about Livingston County–I noticed it was not listed in the article. Where will it meet the Vector pipeline? Is the route through the remaining counties going to change based on where it needs to meet the existing pipeline?
Is it possible that Vector goes through Southwest Michigan? I know our neighbor has multiple pipelines on his property and I thought one was Vector but I might be wrong. It used to be Lakeland gas pipeline but the name was changed several years ago.
Does this mean that they will use an already existing pipeline or will they need to replace Vector in some areas? What I mean is, are they just going to use Vector’s existing right of way easements to build a new pipeline? Thank you as always for your efforts. I am giving several talks over the next few weeks on pipelines, and the more information the better!
Yes, Patricia, I believe it does go through SW Michigan. But that’s not where Rover will meet it.
Im wondering what will happen with nexus now that rover is using the vector line. Do we now have to worry about nexus tearing up our neighborhoods to complete their project
Good question, Gary. I suspect NEXUS will proceed with its plans, but I don’t know.