Do you support the Enbridge pipeline project?

Enbridge Energy is proposing its largest pipeline project ever to transport more Canadian tar sands heavy crude to the U.S., the third major oil pipeline expansion or replacement it's planning across northern Minnesota.

The Calgary-based company proposed spending $7 billion to replace its 46-year-old Line 3 pipeline, which runs from near Edmonton to Clearbrook, Minn., on to Superior, Wis.

The thousand-mile pipeline was originally built to move 760,000 barrels of heavy crude a day. But it now requires regular maintenance, and because of reduced pressure currently transports only 390,000 barrels a day. More from MPR News reporter Dan Kraker.

“Yes, I support the Enbridge projects,” Duluth Mayor Don Ness said Tuesday. “In my mind, pipelines are the most responsible and safest way to transport oil. We are seeing the problems associated with moving crude by truck and rail — transporting by pipeline reduces the energy consumption and risk of accident to transport. Our decision is not whether crude will come from Canada or North Dakota, the question is whether it’s coming on rail or pipeline. In my mind, pipeline transport is the much better option.” (Duluth News Tribune)

"Will this new pipeline 'significantly exacerbate' carbon pollution? Of course it will," Sierra Club staff attorney Doug Hayes said in a statement. "Doubling the size of a pipeline that carries toxic, corrosive tar sands crude will require a full environmental review and will meet the same level of scrutiny and opposition as the other proposed tar sands pipeline projects." (MPR News)

Today's Question: Do you support the Enbridge pipeline project?

• Enbridge appeals to vacate an order that would shut down its pipeline
• Judge dismisses pipeline protest charges against 3 Native women
• DNR confirms new Line 3 aquifer breach in northern Minnesota
• Enbridge faces criminal charge, more fines over Line 3 construction