Our View: Still A Lot to Like in Land Swap
Duluth News Tribune
Editorial Board
Joining the cry now are 145 national and Minnesota-based organizations, businesses, unions, elected officials and others. They all signed a letter dated Nov. 28 urging congressional approval of the land swap before the end of the year and the end of the 115th Congress. A copy of the letter was provided to the News Tribune Opinion page.
“Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have advanced this with bipartisan support,” the letter points out. “Mining is a pillar of the economy in Minnesota, particularly the northern part of the state. Mining contributes $1.8 billion to Minnesota’s economy every year. Long-term investment, like that proposed by PolyMet, would provide robust economic value to local communities. The project will generate hundreds of jobs, including 2 million construction hours over 18-24 months, and an annual $515 million boost to the St. Louis County economy.”
Read More: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/editorials/4545318-our-view-still-lot-land-swap
St. Paul, Minn. (Dec. 13, 2018) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) decision not to reconsider the issuance of the Line 3 Replacement Project’s Route Permit:
“Jobs for Minnesotans commends the unanimous MPUC decision to uphold the Line 3 Replacement Project Route Permit. This decision helps to propel the project forward and bring well-paying jobs to Minnesotans without further delay. Many of those jobs will be filled by skilled Minnesota-based tradespeople who are well equipped to build and maintain our energy infrastructure. Along with quality jobs, this project brings extensive benefits to communities all along the project’s route in the form of spin-off investment from the workers and project expenditures throughout construction and beyond.
“We thank the MPUC for the thorough and timely regulatory review process and look forward to seeing this project move to the construction phase. J4MN strongly encourages civility and respect for the communities along the route and the dedicated professional workers that will be constructing this project.”
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. (Dec. 3, 2018) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to today’s appeal of permits issued last month for the PolyMet NorthMet Project:
“After a thorough, rigorous and lengthy environmental review process with ample public input, this appeal is one more attempt to delay an important project for the state of Minnesota that has demonstrated it can meet or exceed regulatory standards. The PolyMet NorthMet project is a major economic investment for our state and deserves to move ahead without further delay.
This project is Minnesota’s first opportunity to supply essential metals, such as copper and nickel, to the green economy and other critical components of our modern world. Through the issuance of permits last month by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, PolyMet demonstrated they have the right technology and the right environmental and financial protections to chart a responsible path forward for copper-nickel mining in 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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St. Paul, Minn. (Nov. 19, 2018) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) decision not to reconsider the Line 3 Replacement Project’s Certificate of Need:
“Jobs for Minnesotans commends the Public Utilities Commission’s hard and diligent work to uphold the thorough regulatory review process and the rule of law. We strongly agree with today’s PUC decision and the June 2018 decision to grant the Certificate of Need for the Line 3 Replacement Project. We look forward to seeing this project continue to move forward in a timely and civil manner, as the investment in this project keeps our state’s energy transportation infrastructure safe and economically competitive.”
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
Minnesota Public Radio
Dan Kraker
Along with other Iron Range leaders, unions and northern Minnesota mining supporters, the news Thursday that the state Department of Natural Resources had issued the PolyMet Mining company a permit to mine outside the town of Babbitt, was a clear sign of future renewal.
To them, it means hundreds of jobs, new families and renewed economic vitality in a region that has suffered from a slow decline of employment in the iron mining industry. Babbitt’s population has shrunk over the years from 3,500 at its peak to 1,500 people today, as nearby iron ore mines have closed or downsized.
Read More: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/11/01/polymet-mine-permit-decision-minnesota-dnr