The Michigan Public Service Commission approved the permit for Enbridge to build an underground tunnel for the Line 5 pipeline, a critical energy source that currently runs underneath the Straits of Mackinac. The regulatory agency found there is both a public need for the energy products Line 5 carries and to protect the Great Lakes. The commission also recognized that alternatives were both costly and high-risk.

The Great Lakes Tunnel Project, originally scheduled to begin in 2021 and be operational in 2024, is critical to ensuring energy affordability and stability in Michigan. Final approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still necessary before the project can begin.

Line 5 supplies more than half of the propane Michigan residents use to fuel their cars and heat their homes. The pipeline is also responsible for tens of thousands of jobs in downstream industries such as refineries, manufacturers, airports, and businesses, representing more than $464 million in labor income.

Michigan’s winter weather can make driving dangerous. A little preparation before you head out can go a long way to ensure you arrive at your destination safely.

Always check the road conditions before you leave and allow yourself plenty of time to get to where you are going. Drive slowly and allow extra space between vehicles. It is also a good idea to keep an emergency car kit in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Some items to keep in your car include water bottles, jumper cables, a battery charger, warm blanket, ice scraper and shovel. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for more information and tips for driving in winter weather.

Winter in Michigan is a great time for birding. Not all Michigan birds fly south to warmer climates, many stay in the state year-round. Michigan also welcomes many new visitors from the north, making winter an exciting time to watch birds.

Be on the lookout for snow buntings, horned larks, and dark-eyed juncos. Owls are also exciting to watch for when birding. Snowy owls, great gray owls, northern hawk owls and boreal owls make their way into the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula at this time of year.

Michigan is home to nine birding trails, and our state parks, recreation areas, game areas and wildlife sanctuaries are perfect for winter bird watching. Visit these sites for more information about winter birds in Michigan and even more places to view winter birds.