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.
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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.