What could you do with $5 million? Well, if you were Enbridge, you could spend $5 million lobbying state officials in 2017 -- more than twice the next largest lobbying interest and more than any other lobbying for a decade. The big spender last time was also Enbridge, which put in $200,000 to lobby for their last big tar sands pipeline -- the Alberta Clipper.

Enbridge’s lobbying is focused on the Public Utilities Commission which will ultimately make the decision on approval of the highly controversial pipeline this summer. In the David and Goliath battle, grassroots and environmental organizations have spent about $250,000 in lobbying, with hundreds of citizens attending meetings and traveling far on their own dimes.

If I had $5 million, there are a few other things I would spend my money on. It would buy about 50,000 solar panels -- that might help with electricity on 10,000 or more homes in Minnesota.

Then there’s the odd story of employment and nursing homes. Enbridge has been talking about all the employment opportunities this project might support in Minnesota (the Environmental Impact Statement says no new jobs). But let’s take the town of Clearbrook for example, the location of Enbridge’s anchor terminal. The terminal employs 15 people. As Bill Palmer, terminal supervisor and Bagley native, told a reporter, there are only about 15 people regularly employed at the 80-acre terminal facility, much of which is run through automation.

The largest local employer was actually the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Clearbrook. Good Samaritan had 50 employees. In December the facility was closed for financial reasons -- putting out residents to unknown waiting lists and laying off 50 employees.

Enbridge could have spent some of their profits boosting a local economy of Good Samaritan, but instead chose to spend it elsewhere, making many question how good a neighbor they actually are.

Aside from their big lobbying money in hand, there’s also that potential tax money Enbridge is trying to extract from poor Minnesota counties. If Enbridge wins in state tax court, it could force counties to repay $18 million in tax revenue collected and dispersed between 2012 and 2014, and ultimately, possibly more than $50 million.

Too bad Enbridge was so busy lobbying, and possibly preparing to line the pockets of some incumbent candidates: They could have saved a nursing home in their anchor city. Five million dollars is a big chunk of change.

Winona LaDuke , White Earth, is executive director and co-founder of Honor the Earth, a Minnesota-based environmental justice organization led by indigenous women.