Enbridge Energy drops plans for Sandpiper crude oil pipeline

Enbridge Energy has dropped its proposal to build the Sandpiper crude oil pipeline.

Enbridge attorneys notified the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Thursday that the company won't pursue the regulatory approvals needed for the $2.6 billion Sandpiper, which would have carried North Dakota light crude across Minnesota to Enbridge's terminal in Superior, Wisconsin. They cited market conditions and other factors.

Calgary, Alberta-based Enbridge said back in February that it expected to push the start-up date for Sandpiper back until 2019 because of the need for an environmental review. Then last month Enbridge said it was investing in a different pipeline that would transport North Dakota crude south to Texas, and that it would re-evaluate Sandpiper once that deal was done.

Environmentalists fought the 616-mile pipeline, saying it threatened ecologically sensitive areas.