As Presidential Campaigns Come to Minnesota, the Need for Jobs In Line 3 Counties Remains Strong

AVERAGE OF WORKERS IN 14 “LINE 3 COUNTIES” WHO HAVE FILED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS IS 25.5%

(BRAINERD, MINN) As Minnesota today hosts visits from President Trump and Vice President Biden, the need for jobs across Northern Minnesota remains strong. The latest information from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) shows the average percentage of workers who have filed unemployment insurance claims in the 14 “Line 3 Counties” is 25.5%. President Donald Trump will hold an even today at the Bemidji airport while Former Vice President Joe Biden will be at an event at a union training center in Duluth.

“Minnesota is hosting two presidential candidates who want to get people back to work and lift up our communities,” said Matt Kilian, President of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce. “In our state, I don’t believe there is a better way to immediately achieve this than the Line 3 Replacement project. The economic impact would be about the same as hosting a Super Bowl every year. We’ve had dozens of studies and public comment periods over the past six years. Now, we just need the final approvals to move forward.”

To replace the existing Line 3, Enbridge will invest approximately $2.6 billion. The project will immediately create more than 4,000 good paying union jobs and generate an estimated $35 million in new tax revenue for the State of Minnesota. To prepare for construction, Enbridge has already spent more than $100 million in local communities to help train tribal members for construction jobs. When fully operational, the new Line 3 will also create additional tax revenue for cities, counties, and school districts across Northern Minnesota.

The Line 3 project has been under review by agencies and regulators for almost six years and started during the Obama-Biden Administration. In April of 2015, Enbridge submitted their application for replacement of Line 3 to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission as part of its integrity and maintenance driven program. In 2016, Enbridge entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency, both led by Obama-Biden appointees. As part of the agreement, the U.S. Government required Enbridge to replace the Line 3 pipeline. On June 28, 2018, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved the Certificate of Need and approved the Route Permit.

In June the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency decided to hold a contested case hearing that delays the permit decision until November, creating another delay for the project. The agency had said the hearing would consider a number of additional questions raised by the Friends of the Headwaters, Sierra Club, Honor the Earth, White Earth Band of Ojibwe and the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. Only 7 witnesses testified in the hearing that took only a few hours instead of the planned full week of time.

The decision to hold the contested case process delays a final decision on the 401 permits until November 14^th. Work to complete these permits continues, despite Governor Walz’s recent decision to have the Department of Commerce legally challenge the PUC’s decision to again issue the Certificate of Need. If approved by the MPCA, the water-related permits will then be sent to the Army Corps of Engineers for final approval. If the Army Corps approves the permit, construction will start this year.

“People in Brainerd and across Northern Minnesota remain hopeful that this project can finally be approved to bring much-needed jobs to our communities,” Kilian said. “This has been a challenging time for our region as we deal with the impacts of both COVID and the economic impacts that continue to hurt our economy. It has always made sense to replace a key part of our energy infrastructure with something that is new and better. Now it is even more important because of the jobs and investment it will immediately bring to Minnesota. We are truly ready for this project to move forward.”

Latest average unemployment insurance information for Line 3 Counties as of September 18^th

County		Percentage
Kittson		11.6%
Beltrami		24.7%
Marshall		16.7%
Pennington		24.3%
Polk		21.5%
Red Lake		21.8%
Clearwater		29.6%
Hubbard		27.2%
Cass		34.1%
Crow Wing		29.7%
Aitkin		28.2%
Carlton		30.2%
St. Louis		30.8%
Wadena		26.7%


AVERAGE		25.51%

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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