Our View: Review Processes Prove Effective Again
Duluth News Tribune
Editorial Board
It’s reassuring when we see such processes proving effective — just as intended. That’s particularly true in this instance. Replacing an aging Line 3 oil pipeline across northern Minnesota will protect the environment, help to preserve our nation’s energy independence, and generate hundreds of millions of dollars of economic impact for all the Northland.
St. Paul, Minn. (Dec. 9, 2019) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following statement regarding the Minnesota Department of Commerce report to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on spill modeling for Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project:
“We welcome the release of the Minnesota Department of Commerce revisions to the proposed Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project Environmental Impact Statement. This analysis was a ‘worst-case scenario’ requirement by the appeals court to be added to an otherwise acceptable environmental impact statement, and confirms that in the unlikely case of a breach the Line 3 replacement segment does not introduce risk to Lake Superior. This finding should finally pave the way for approving the Line 3 Replacement Project.
“This project is the most thoroughly reviewed project in Minnesota history, and the PUC has consistently agreed it deserves to move forward. We look forward to seeing this project, and the jobs and benefits it will bring to our communities, come to life for the betterment of our state.”
About Jobs for Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
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Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978
Our View: Twin Metals Poised to Prove It’s Responsible
Duluth News Tribune
Editorial Board
Twin Metals has been working for 10 years and has invested $450 million-and-counting to develop a better way, a safer way, and an environmentally friendly way to extract the strategic minerals the world needs and is getting now via sometimes-dangerous and too-often-unscrupulous means.
“We have the potential to reignite industry (in the Ely area, providing) opportunities for people to stay here, to raise families here, and to fill up the schools again. So it’s really important to us,” said Dean DeBeltz, Twin Metals’ director of operations and safety. “It’s a very significant economic-development project not only for this area but for Minnesota as a whole.”
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: New Line 3 Will Benefit Minnesota
Bemidji Pioneer
Mike Pulczinski
The benefits for our state if this project is awarded are many.
The jobs for the community will be about 8,600 and about 6,500 will all be local. About $162 million in economic impact will profit local businesses, through supermarkets, hotels, gas stations and local construction material.
St. Paul, Minn. (Oct. 1, 2019) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following statement addressing the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s decision today regarding Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project:
“Today’s swift decision by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to advance the process for the Line 3 Replacement Project is energizing and encouraging for the communities who have been waiting too long for these benefits to the economy and the environment. We urge the agencies to continue to move expeditiously through the timeline and final reviews and scoping for the Environmental Impact Statement of the Line 3 Project.
“This project is the most thoroughly reviewed project in Minnesota history, and at each stage the agencies have agreed it deserves to move forward. We look forward to seeing this project, and the jobs and benefits it will bring to our communities, come to life for the betterment of our state.”
About Jobs for Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
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Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978
St. Paul, Minn. (Oct. 1, 2019) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following statement regarding yesterday’s U.S. District Court Decision to dismiss all lawsuits challenging the NorthMet copper-nickel mine project land exchange between the U.S. Forest Service and PolyMet:
“We applaud the Court’s ruling that these lawsuits lacked standing to challenge the land exchange for the PolyMet NorthMet project. It is unfortunate that Litigation has become a delay tactic and expected step in the process for copper-nickel mine projects. Yesterday’s decision validates the strength of the process and of the NorthMet project and the value it will bring to our communities.
“This ruling brings PolyMet a step closer to bringing to life the promise of 360 direct, much-needed and family sustaining jobs for our region.”
About Jobs for Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
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Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978
St. Paul, Minn. (Sept. 27, 2019) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following statement following the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s action today on Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project:
“Today’s action by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project was expected given the Minnesota Court of Appeals decision back in June. Jobs for Minnesotans is encouraged by the Minnesota Supreme Court’s decision last week and the quick action of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to move expeditiously through the final reviews of the Line 3 Project.
“The Line 3 Project is the most thoroughly reviewed project in the state’s history. We look forward to seeing this Project move forward for the betterment of Minnesota communities and environment in the coming months.”
About Jobs for Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
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Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
Cell: 218.590.6978
Duluth News Tribune
Chris Vreeland, Marlene Pospeck, and Mark Skelton
*Chris Vreeland is mayor of Hoyt Lakes. Marlene Pospeck served as Hoyt Lakes mayor from 1997-2012. And Mark Skelton served as Hoyt Lakes mayor from 2012-2018
We find it sad and more than a little irritating to watch and listen to former Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson emerge as a battering ram against the PolyMet copper-nickel mine in our hometown of Hoyt Lakes on the eastern part of the Iron Range.
[…]
We want the whole state to prosper, not just the Twin Cities metropolitan area. That’s a sore point for us because as proud as we are of our hometown, it’s never fully recovered since LTV’s heartbreaking pullout. We need the infusion of jobs, tax base, and life-sustaining people energy that the PolyMet mine will bring. We celebrate, along with our community, every single job already created and applaud each new job posting.
St. Paul, Minn. (Sept. 17, 2019) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following statement addressing the Minnesota Supreme Court decision today regarding Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project:
“The Minnesota Supreme Court made the right decision today for the state of Minnesota – denying the petitions for review on the Line 3 Replacement Project, the most thoroughly reviewed project in Minnesota’s history.
“Jobs for Minnesotans now urges the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) to move forward with and outline an expeditious timeline for the additional review of the Project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement as ordered by the MN Court of Appeals without delay.
“The Line 3 Replacement Project has real impacts to real people across the state, and Minnesota communities are waiting with urgency for this project to be permitted. Not just for the $2.6 billion investment in the state’s energy infrastructure or the 6,500 family-sustaining local jobs that will bring many Minnesota skilled tradespeople home, but also to protect the environment which is progressively more at risk as this review process continues.”
About Jobs for Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
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Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
Cell: 218.590.6978
Duluth News Tribune
Brad Shamla
Enbridge is willing and able to make a huge private investment in the protection of Minnesota’s environment and has the proven financial strength to do so. We also have the financial strength to operate and maintain our systems for decades to come, including any operational issues that may arise — just as we have done for the past 70 years.
The replacement of Line 3 is projected to cost $2.6 billion and will create 8,600 jobs in Minnesota during construction. In terms of economic impact, that is about $334 million in payroll to workers, plus a $162 million construction-related gain for local economies through the purchase of local products and materials and the use of local hotels, restaurants, and services.