Following Approval of Bonding Bill, Another Northern Minnesota Mayor Urges Governor Walz to Make Sure Line 3 Project Permits are Approved

REQUEST COMES AS MORE THAN 75,000 WORKERS IN 14 “LINE 3 COUNTIES” HAVE FILED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS WITH STATE OF MINNESOTA

(BABBIT, MINN) Following recent action by the Minnesota Legislature to approve a bonding bill that will use taxpayer dollars to fund construction projects, Mayor Andrea Zupancich of Babbitt today called on Governor Walz to make sure permits for the Line 3 Replacement Project are approved and issued this year. The Minnesota House and Senate voted this week to approve the $1.8 billion measure during the recent special legislative session. Zupancich is the latest in a growing number of mayors calling on the Walz Administration to approve Line 3, in part, because of the jobs and private sector investment it will create.

The latest information from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) shows more than 75,000 workers in the 14 “Line 3 Counties” have filed unemployment insurance applications since March of 2020, representing more than 26 percent of the available workforce. The privately funded Line 3 project would immediately put more than 4,000 people to work as soon as this year.

“Historically Minnesota has looked at the bonding bill as a way to create the jobs and investment our communities need to move things forward,” said Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich. “That has changed, in part, because the challenges we face across Northern Minnesota need and demand action beyond what can be paid for only by taxpayers. Line 3 will use billions of private sector dollars to immediately put thousands of people to work this year in communities that need the energy and investment. While it’s good news to see agreement on the key legislation, making sure Line 3’s permits are approved this year is more important and it’s why I am calling on Governor Walz to make sure it happens.”

The Line 3 project has been under review by state and federal agencies and regulators for almost six years. It officially started in 2015 during the Obama-Biden Administration when Enbridge submitted their application for replacement of Line 3 to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission as part of its integrity and maintenance driven program.

To replace the aging line, Enbridge will invest approximately $2.6 billion to fund work across 14 counties. The project will immediately create more than 4,000 good paying union jobs. Enbridge has already spent more than $100 million with tribal communities to help engage their members to connect them with construction jobs. When fully completed and operational, the replaced Line 3 will also create additional tax revenue for counties and school districts across Northern Minnesota.

On June 28, 2018, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved the Certificate of Need and approved the Route Permit. In June of this year, instead of issuing key permits that would have allowed Line 3 construction to start, the Walz Administration directed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to hold a contested case hearing that has delayed the permitting decision until November.

The decision to hold the contested case process delayed a final decision on the 401 permits potentially until November 14^th. At the same time, work by agencies to complete 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 next month, 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 as soon as possible.

“Northern Minnesota’s history was created by making sure we can approve key projects that have protected the environment and created the jobs and investment that have supported our communities,” Zupancich said. “Our future now depends on this same approach to make sure we continue to both protect our natural resources and create an economy that allows communities to thrive. Line 3 meets this important test. It is clearly better for the environment to replace a key part of our energy infrastructure in a way that creates the family-supporting jobs we need. In a year of so many big decisions that need to be made, it’s clearly time now for Governor Walz to make sure there are no more delays, that permits are issued and work on Line 3 can start this year.”

Latest average unemployment insurance information for Line 3 Counties as of September 30^th

County		Percentage
Kittson		11.8%
Beltrami		25.3%
Marshall		17.3%
Pennington		25.2%
Polk		22.2%
Red Lake		226%
Clearwater		30.4%
Hubbard		28%
Cass		35%
Crow Wing		30.5%
Aitkin		29.3%
Carlton		31.1%
St. Louis		31.6%
Wadena		27.4%

AVERAGE		26.26%
TOTAL # of workers		75,408

Percentage and number 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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