County Officials Say Line 3 Having Positive Long Term Impact as Work is About to Re-start

FROM BOOSTING JOBS AND SPENDING DURING CONSTRUCTION TO HELPING FARMERS MOVE CROPS BY REDUCING NEED FOR OIL TRAINS, LINE 3 IS SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES

(BEMIDJI, MINN) As the next phase of work to replace Line 3 gets ready to re-start, county commissioners along the route say the project will have an important long-term positive impact on the region. They say the project has created an immediate lift for local businesses, a longer-term impact from new tax revenue from the additional economic activity, and when fully done – Line 3 will reduce the amount of oil being shipped by trains that will help farmers more easily get crops to market.

“I can immediately see the impact of all the the vehicles with out-of-state plates, busy restaurants, and lots more business in the grocery stores and all the retail environments,” said Beltrami County Commissioner Craig Gaasvig. “Seeing the influx of out-of-town business that we haven’t had with everything being shut down as much as it was up here. Our businesses up here were suffering, and we really needed that injection of extra business. It couldn’t have come soon enough.”

The Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics study estimated that that Line 3 will support 2,800 retail/hospitality sector jobs and 1,600 local supplier/manufacturer jobs. The study also shows indirect positive economic impacts will include more than $160 million in non-local worker spending on meals, lodging, and incidentals while working in the study area.

Beyond the financial investment in the communities, when fully operational Line 3 will reduce rail traffic that has been an issue for area farmers.

“Our towns were built along the railroad to move agricultural products out of this country and bring our fertilizer and stuff like that in,” said Kittson County Commissioner Darrel Johnson. “We have had elevators that get full of grain. They can’t get cars to move the grain out then, and we can’t get our product into the elevator when we need to because they’re waiting for a train. Because Line 3 can’t carry as much right now, trains now haul oil. They barrel right through our towns, right by our schools, right by our nursing homes and hospitals, over our rivers and streams. The pipeline is a way safer way to move oil.”

Construction work on the Line 3 Replacement Project has been paused for two months because of seasonal road restrictions related to the seasonal transition from winter to spring. Work will begin again in June. Crews have already completed more than half of the project in the first four months. During the first phase of work, the project has supported a workforce that at times exceeded 5,000 people across the route’s 14 counties.

The effort to replace Line 3 started in 2014 during the Obama-Biden Administration as part of a review of America’s operating energy infrastructure. Federal regulators and Enbridge agreed to a consent decree that ordered the company to replace the pipeline. Enbridge worked with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the agency’s robust review process by submitting an application to seek approval for replacing Line 3 in 2015. The replacement project was part of Enbridge’s integrity and maintenance driven program.

After more than six years of review by state and federal agencies, Line 3 is now the most reviewed pipeline project in Minnesota history. For people who have closely followed the Line 3 permitting process, seeing the final approvals happen was an important moment.

“The fact that it’s finally getting done after all these years is just such a relief,” Gaasvig said. “To me, I can’t imagine how anybody with any common sense would be opposed to replacing a line that’s failing. It would be a whole different story if Enbridge was asking the state taxpayers to pay for the replacement. They’re paying and they’re putting forth the money to do it themselves. Replacing a line like that at their expense, to make it better and safer for the future. I just can’t imagine how anybody would think that is not a good idea.”

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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