The Enbridge company is not building a new pipeline, but they plan to move more oilthrough one built several years ago. The pipeline runs through Wisconsin, and in Illinois, through Belvidere, DeKalb, and Ottawa. That's where new pump stations are under construction.
Enbridge spokesperson Jennifer Smith says the company is currently using only a third of the capacity of the line.
"There has been prolific production in North Dakota in the Bakken area as well as in Alberta, Canada," Smith said. "Our customers are the refineries in the U.S. There's now more demand to transport the crude oil that's being produced from those two areas. Hence, the need to bring the line up to full capacity."
Full capacity means 1.2 million barrels per day. Smith says the company already received regulatory approval and expects the pump stations to be completed by the middle of next year.
The Line 61 upgrades are separate from the Flanagan South projectfrom Enbridge.
