To the editor,

As a Wisconsin dairy farmer for 30 plus years, access to energy is about whether we can keep our farms running.

Farmers have long said the Enbridge Line 5 Relocation project is critical to maintaining the propane supply we rely on, especially in winter. We also depend on strong environmental protections, which is why the recent decision by a Wisconsin Administrative Law Judge to uphold the DNR’s permits matters. The ruling made clear that opponents failed to provide credible, evidence-based arguments.

On our farm, propane isn’t optional. It heats barns, protects animal health, and dries crops for feed. Without it, daily operations are at risk and so is the broader food supply chain.

As a federal judge recently noted, “…no alternative modes of transportation have been developed to replace Line 5's products into its downstream markets, meaning that a shutdown would inevitably cause significant shortages of propane…”. That’s a real concern for farmers and rural communities across Wisconsin.

Multiple agencies — including the Wisconsin DNR, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. EPA — have reviewed and approved this project. At the end of the day, we should follow the facts and recognize what’s at stake for agriculture.

Paul Fetzer

Elmwood