St. Paul, Minn. (Oct. 8, 2018) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in advance of the trial in Bagley, Minn. beginning Monday on charges filed against four out-of-state residents, two of whom allegedly used destructive actions to trespass on an Enbridge pumping station near Leonard, Minn., on Oct. 11, 2016:

“Jobs for Minnesotans condemns acts of violence, destruction and trespassing of any kind and urges the court to send a strong message that dangerous actions like these are unacceptable. We cannot allow this particular event, which had the potential to cause vast damage and have a much worse outcome than it did, to set a dangerous legal precedent for others to put communities in danger.

In Minnesota, we believe in the established processes which are robust and thorough to assess and ensure the environmental impact and safety of pipelines before construction and during the lifespan of their operation. There are many non-criminal avenues, such as the Legislature, the courts or lawful protest, in which concerned citizens can and should voice their concerns about the environment. Thoughtless actions that put pipeline employees and community members in danger should not be encouraged by the courts, and should not be considered a “necessity” at any point.

Laws are in place to assure the safety of Minnesotans and our communities. We expect anyone from outside our state to follow the law when they choose to visit.”

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.

 ###

Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
Cell: 218.590.6978

St. Paul, Minn. (Sept. 11, 2018) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to the extreme behavior by opponents to the Line 3 Replacement Project at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission hearing in St. Paul today:

“Jobs for Minnesotans is appalled by the extreme actions today by protesters at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) hearing on conditions regarding the Certificate of Need for Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project. The protesters’ disrespectful efforts to intimidate the PUC Commissioners who are charged with balancing the interests of all Minnesotans and making decisions based on sound process is unacceptable. They should be able to conduct the business of the state in a civilized and safe work environment.

Safe energy transportation is one of the more critical infrastructures that our state depends on and deserves a respectful discourse. This extreme disruption to the established process does not represent the best interest for 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.

 ###

Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
Cell: 218.590.6978

KMSP-TV
Alex Lenhart

The U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled the withdrawal Thursday, saying its review did not reveal any new scientific information. It says interested companies may soon be able to sign mineral leases in the watershed.

“It’s our duty as responsible stewards of our environment to maintain and protect our natural resources,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement. “At the same time, we must put our national forests to work for the taxpayers to support local economies and create jobs.”

[…]

Nancy Norr, of Jobs for Minnesotans said the benefits of mining activity and the jobs it will bring to the region is the most important thing.

“Appropriately named organization when you’re talking about the potential for thousands of new jobs associated with future mining activity in the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota,” she said.

Read More: http://www.fox9.com/news/environment/trump-administration-removes-obstacle-to-mining-near-bwca

St. Paul, Minn. (Sept. 6, 2018) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture announcement that it has cancelled the proposed mineral withdrawal in northern Minnesota.

“Today’s announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is the right decision for Minnesota’s future and validates the existing environmental review process – which states the proper time to evaluate potential impacts of mining projects is after they have been proposed. This action upholds what Minnesotans who believe that a mining economy can coexist with a treasured environment have been saying for nearly two years. This is a significant win for our way of life in Minnesota, where we have a long history of balancing these interests. We’re thankful to everyone who has helped us achieve today’s action.

“As the highest consuming nation in the world of these minerals, it’s irresponsible to put a  world class deposit in the Duluth Complex off limits. We fully agree with the importance of upholding good review processes for the interests of all Minnesotans, a belief held by our state’s more than 130-year-old mining industry. This action removes a cloud of uncertainty for potential mining interests in the region, preserving a future for responsible mining that creates careers for the next generation, invests in our communities and supplies our nation with essential metals.”

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.

###

Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
Cell: 218.590.6978

Citizens League Voice
Nancy Norr

The economic potential of copper-nickel mining is well studied. According to a 2012 study by the University of Minnesota–Duluth’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics, for every job in the copper-nickel mining industry, two additional jobs will be created in other industries, like manufacturing, retail, and hospitality.

Not only is the quantity of jobs generated from mining impressive, but so are the quality of those jobs. These are high-paying jobs that sustain families, offer benefits, ensure a secure retirement, and put kids through college. The average wage for a mining job in the United States in 2016 was just shy of $74,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure is 38 percent higher than the average wage for all other industries. In Minnesota, the earnings potential for a mining job is even higher—over $77,000 in 2016 or 41 percent higher than the average annual wage for all other industries.

Read More: https://citizensleague.org/blog/a-good-debate-mining-arguments/