St. Paul, Minn. (Feb. 12, 2019) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to Governor Walz’ decision to continue the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s appeal challenging the Line 3 Replacement Project’s Certificate of Need that was dismissed by the Minnesota Court of Appeals:
“Jobs for Minnesotans is disappointed by Governor Walz’s decision to continue the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s appeal of the Line 3 Replacement Project’s Certificate of Need. We stand behind the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s (MPUC) unanimous approval of the Line 3 Replacement Project Certificate of Need following a rigorous and thorough four year review. The MPUC commissioners understood the sense of urgency to replace this line to protect the environment, yet this decision dismisses their knowledge of the law and commitment to fairly and impartially weigh the merits of the project. Time after time, the project has been deemed necessary by the MPUC in the best interest of the public and the state of Minnesota.
“The project is a critical $2.6 billion dollar private investment in Minnesota’s energy infrastructure, replacing an aging pipeline on which the state relies for energy security and economic competitiveness. The project will provide quality jobs to more than 6,500 Minnesota workers during the course of the project, including 2,100 family-sustaining construction jobs. And, bring Minnesota tradespeople back home to work.
“We strongly encourage Governor Walz to issue permits in a timely manner to prevent any further delays to the Line 3 Replacement Project while this appeal continues through the courts.”
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
St. Paul, Minn. (Feb. 4, 2019) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement following the tampering of an Enbridge pipeline valve near Grand Rapids earlier today:
“Jobs for Minnesotans joins its thousands of members and the vast majority of Minnesotans who strongly condemn the dangerous and unacceptable actions taken today in the tampering incident involving an Enbridge pipeline valve near Grand Rapids. We value the safety of our communities, workers and the lands and environment impacted by these actions, and urge lawmakers and enforcers not to allow criminal acts like these to continue. We believe that projects following the rigorous state review and approval process should be allowed to move through the construction and operation stages safely, without worries of the impacts of drastic measures taken by those who choose not to pursue lawful means in making their concerns heard.”
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
St. Paul, Minn. (Jan. 14, 2019) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to Rep. Pete Stauber’s introduction of H.R. 527, the Superior National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2019, to Congress today:
“We welcome today’s news that Rep. Pete Stauber has introduced legislation to ratify the already approved PolyMet land exchange. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar bill in the last session of Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. We commend Rep. Stauber for following through on his campaign promise and thank him and other members of the Minnesota delegation for their continued support of the copper-nickel mining industry that will bring family-sustaining jobs and an economic boost to the communities of northeast Minnesota.”
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
Stauber Introduces PolyMet Land Exchange Bill
Duluth News Tribune
Staff
[Rep. Pete] Stauber, R-Hermantown, introduced H.R. 527, the Superior National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2019, to reaffirm a land swap between PolyMet Mining Co. and the U.S. Forest Service, according to a news release sent by Stauber’s office.
St. Paul, Minn. (Dec. 21, 2018) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to an appeal filed today by the Minnesota Department of Commerce challenging the approval of the Certificate of Need for Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project:
“Jobs for Minnesotans stands behind the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s (MPUC) approval of the Line 3 Replacement Project Certificate of Need and is not surprised by the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s (MDOC) appeal. The MPUC, appointed by Governor Dayton, has been the lead agency diligently evaluating the project details throughout the rigorous four-year public input and environmental review process. The MPUC has consistently ruled against the MDOC in several critical matters associated with this project. The MPUC just reaffirmed its unanimous decision on the project’s Certificate of Need as recently as November. Ultimately, time after time, the Line 3 Replacement Project has been deemed necessary by the MPUC in the best interest of the public and the state of Minnesota.
“The project is a critical $2.6 billion dollar investment in Minnesota’s energy infrastructure, replacing an aging pipeline on which the state relies. The project will provide quality jobs to more than 6,500 Minnesota workers during the course of the project, including 2,100 family-sustaining construction jobs. The communities along the route stand to benefit immensely from the approval of this project and it is imperative to the economic welfare of the state that it be allowed to move forward.”s
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