Enbridge paid police to protect one pipeline. Now it wants to do it again in Wisconsin.

Enbridge has secured an uncapped funding agreement with two Wisconsin counties to pay local law enforcement for policing potential protests against its Line 5 reroute. This agreement, mirroring similar arrangements from previous pipeline projects, allows sheriffs to bill the company for riot gear, training, and patrol expenses. Critics, including Indigenous community members, argue it turns public service into private security and raises concerns about disproportionate policing and transparency, particularly given the secretive nature of the reimbursement clause.