St. Paul, Minn. (June 16, 2020) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement addressing the Minnesota Supreme Court’s decision to review March’s Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling on the air permit for the PolyMet NorthMet Project:
“Jobs for Minnesotans is encouraged by today’s announcement that the Minnesota Supreme Court is reviewing the ruling on the PolyMet air permit from earlier this year. Also petitioned by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the ruling negates the role of the legislature and the state agencies’ expertise and ability to do its work and make decisions. While we acknowledge the right and expected litigation phase of the regulatory process, this ruling puts the decision making into the court’s hands instead of the career agency professionals and elected representatives of our government.
“We are confident this project should move forward and the more than 15 years of thorough environmental review by state and federal agencies should be upheld. The metals that will be safely and responsibly mined are critical not only to an expanding green economy, but also to the infrastructure we have in place for reliable power and broadband communications networks.
“Projects like PolyMet will help bring economic prosperity to a region that is experiencing severe economic disparities. The project will provide approximately 360 family-supporting jobs to northeastern Minnesota communities and generate an estimated $515 million annually. It would help power growth of a more diverse regional and statewide economy as the first company to mine essential metals from the world-class Duluth Complex.”
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, Board Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978
St. Paul, Minn. (June 3, 2020) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement following the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s decision to hold contested case hearings for the Line 3 Replacement Project 401 certification:
“We are dismayed by today’s MPCA decision to conduct a contested case process for the Line 3 Replacement Project 401 certification. This decision delays the permitting process for a project that will protect the environment, which is progressively more at risk as this review process continues. We recognize that the MPCA made this decision given the recent Court of Appeals ruling on PolyMet, a ruling that is up for review in the Minnesota Supreme Court.
“Line 3 is the most thoroughly reviewed project in Minnesota’s history. Communities across Minnesota are waiting with urgency to put thousands of skilled tradespeople to work and for the $2.6 billion investment in the state’s energy infrastructure. This privately funded project will provide a significant economic stimulus for Greater Minnesota that is needed now more than ever.
“We encourage our allies in business, labor and communities who believe this project is right for Minnesota to remain engaged and resilient, and we ask that the MPCA and the Office of Administrative Hearings be efficient and keep the process laser focused on the narrow issues addressed in today’s agency decision.”
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, Board Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978
St. Paul, Minn. (May 1, 2020) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement following the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) decision to re-issue the certificate of need and route permit for the Line 3 Replacement Project:
“Jobs for Minnesotans celebrates today’s decision by the MPUC to issue the certificate of need and route permit for the Line 3 Replacement Project based on an extensive scientific and factual record. As the most thoroughly reviewed in Minnesota’s history, this safety and maintenance project will provide a much needed private economic stimulus to greater Minnesota while also protecting the environment.
“As leaders in business, labor and communities, we appreciate that this decision brings us closer to putting thousands of skilled tradespeople to work here at home in Minnesota, creating more than $2 billion in economic impact in northeastern Minnesota communities and enhancing the safety of our environment for generations to come.”
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, Board Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978
St. Paul, Minn. (April 21, 2020) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement addressing the decision by PolyMet to petition the Minnesota Supreme Court on the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling last month that remanded the PolyMet NorthMet Project air permit back to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for more information:
“Jobs for Minnesotans strongly supports the PolyMet petition and encourages the MPCA to also file a petition to the ruling. We believe the Minnesota Supreme Court should review last month’s ruling given its broad implications. We support PolyMet providing any information deemed necessary, but are increasingly concerned about the threat this ruling poses to Minnesota’s competitiveness, especially as we look toward economic recovery in the coming months and years.
“We are confident this project should move forward, upholding more than 15 years of thorough environmental review by state and federal agencies. The metals that will be safely and responsibly mined by PolyMet are critical not only to an expanding green economy, but also for important health care applications and to the infrastructure we have in place for reliable power and broadband communications networks that provide many Minnesotans with the capability to connect and work from home in today’s circumstances.
“We continue to look forward to the approximately 360 family-supporting jobs and estimated $515 million in annual economic benefits this project will bring to northeastern Minnesota communities, who need it now more than ever as they contend with the prospect of enormous losses related to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage our allies in business, labor and communities who believe this project is right for Minnesota to stand strong.”
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, Board Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978
St. Paul, Minn. (March 25, 2020) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement addressing the Minnesota Supreme Court’s decision to review January’s Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling on the dam safety permits and permit to mine for the PolyMet NorthMet Project:
“Jobs for Minnesotans is extremely pleased the Minnesota Supreme Court is reviewing the ruling on the PolyMet permits from earlier this year. The ruling – also petitioned by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources – has a negative impact on the state’s overall economy, not just on PolyMet. It creates regulatory uncertainty for multiple industries and municipalities as well as jeopardizes state agencies’ ability to perform their work.
“We are confident this project should move forward and the more than 15 years of thorough environmental review by state and federal agencies should be upheld. The metals that will be safely and responsibly mined by PolyMet are critical not only to an expanding green economy, but also to the infrastructure we have in place for reliable power and broadband communications networks that provide many Minnesotans with the capability to connect and work from home in today’s circumstances.
“Projects like PolyMet will help bring economic prosperity to a region that experiences severe economic disparities even in a strong economy. The project will provide approximately 360 family-supporting jobs to northeastern Minnesota communities and generate an estimated $515 million annually. It would help power growth of a more diverse regional and statewide economy as the first company to mine essential metals from the world-class Duluth Complex.”
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, Board Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978