While Minnesota Waits for Gov Walz Decision, Unemployment in Line 3 Counties Continues to Increase

ALMOST 23% of WORKERS IN THE 14 “LINE 3 COUNTIES” HAVE FILED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS, WAITING FOR KEY DECISIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT

(BEMIDJI, MINN) The number of people across Northern Minnesota seeking economic help continues to increase as they wait for key decisions by Governor Walz about the Line 3 Replacement project. The latest information from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) shows the average percentage of workers in the 14 “Line 3 Counties” who have filed unemployment insurance claims is now almost 23 percent. This is the 5^th week in a row the rate has increased since Minnesotans for Line 3 has been tracking the data and shows the ongoing need to find ways to get people back to work.

The continued increase in the number of people needing help comes as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz considers appealing recent decisions by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to issue a certificate of need and route permit for the pipeline project. Two of the four PUC commissioners voting to approve the actions, Valerie Means and Joe Sullivan, were recently appointed by Governor Walz. Last year Governor Walz and groups opposing the project filed litigation that further delayed the project. If the Walz Administration again legally challenges the PUC’s approval, it would likely make it almost impossible for construction to start in 2020.

“It is impossible to ignore the ongoing economic challenges we are dealing with as these numbers go up every week,” said Marc & Tanner Olson of Lakes Concrete Plus, Inc of Bemidji, Walker, Fosston & Northome, MN. “We need help now to change things and get people back to work. The only project that can do that in a significant way is Line 3. Governor Walz needs to listen to the people he has appointed and accept the PUC’s decision and the fact this project is ready to go and is needed across Northern Minnesota. We and the many others who support Line 3 again call on him to do the right thing for the growing number of families who need work, hope, and that things will get better.”

The Line 3 project would immediately create more than 4,000 good paying, union jobs in cities across Northern Minnesota. The project will also invest approximately $2.6 billion into local economies and Enbridge has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars preparing for construction to start. All of this at a time when Minnesota has never needed the jobs and investment more. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s decision to hold a contested case hearing on key permits for the project means the earliest construction could start would be mid-November of this year. Any additional legal challenges filed by the Walz Administration would likely create additional delays resulting in construction work being put off until 2021.

In June the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) voted 4-1 to deny requests from the Minnesota Department of Commerce and other project opponents to reconsider its approval of both the certificate of need and the route permit. Two of commissioners who voted to deny the petitions to reconsider the certificate of need and route permit were recently appointed by Governor Walz. They both strongly supported the PUC’s decision to re-issue the two key permits:

Commissioner Valerie Means:

“The project is the safest, most rational option for protection the environment and Minnesota communities.”

Commissioner Joe Sullivan:

“I also believe that the Commission did not err in its legal determination as demand for the pipeline has been shown.”

Latest unemployment information for Line 3 Counties as of July 9^th

County		Percentage
Kittson		10.4%
Beltrami		22.1%
Marshall		14.9%
Pennington		20.8%
Polk		19.3%
Red Lake		18.6%
Clearwater		26.8%
Hubbard		24.8%
Cass		31.1%
Crow Wing		27.6%
Aitkin		24.9%
Carlton		26.8%
St. Louis		27.9%
Wadena		24.4%


AVERAGE		22.88%

Percentage of people filing for unemployment insurance as a share of the 2019 available labor force

Data provided by Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
https://mn.gov/deed/data/data-tools/unemployment-insurance-statistics/

Contact: Susan Goudge
Susan@Minnesotansforline3.com | 218-556-3617

We can’t afford to wait any longer for Line 3

“It’s long overdue for those making decisions in this state to pause and look at the facts. We cannot afford another appeal. Too much time and taxpayer dollars have been used to repeatedly determine that Line 3 is necessary.

If we do not approve Line 3 and get started soon, the people of Minnesota will deserve an explanation about why the most studied pipeline project in our state’s history – that literally checks every box – was stalled at a time when our economy needs it so much.”

Rich Siegert, Rochester Post Bulletin

Minnesota needs Line 3 project

“Let’s get one thing clear: Minnesota needs Line 3.

Replacing Line 3 will bring thousands of jobs to our state at a time when we desperately need it. While our legislature stalls on a bonding bill and other forms of relief, how about Governor Walz and his administration making an easy decision to stop delaying a project that will bring thousands of jobs to northern Minnesota?”

Craig Gaasvig, Grand Forks Herald

Nearly six years to replace Line 3 is too long

“My family has farmed in Clearwater County for 85 years. As farmers, we take pride in our land and work hard to take care of the soil and water around us. We also take very seriously planning our farming operations, including rotating our crops and maintaining our equipment.

For 48 years, we’ve hosted six pipelines on our property and have always had a good relationship with the company. In 2014, we received a letter from Enbridge about the company’s intention to replace its Line 3 pipeline. Since that initial letter, we’ve worked with Enbridge on the easement for the replacement pipe and have considered our farming plans to accommodate construction.”

Brian Emmel, Bemidji Pioneer

Support Minnesotans by supporting Line 3

“In trying times like these, you would think local governments would try to work together to get things done. The fact of the matter is, they can’t — or they won’t. The gridlock in our state house is at an all-time high, and neither side seems willing to concede anything to the other. You would think they would care more about the people than these political chess matches; but for the most part, that’s not the case. Minnesota needs jobs more than ever — as well as the hope that things can get better. As we struggle with COVID19, the changes it has forced upon us have left too many of our businesses to drop like flies, with more people applying for unemployment every day.”

Dave Langfeld, Duluth News Tribune

Letters to the Editor Supporting Line 3:

We can’t afford to wait any longer for Line 3

Minnesota needs Line 3 project

Nearly six years to replace Line 3 is too long

Support Minnesotans by supporting Line 3

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