We can’t afford to wait any longer for Line 3
By Rich Siegert
Rochester Post Bulletin
August 11, 2020
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. (Read more)
Minnesota needs Line 3 project
By Craig Gaasvig
Grand Forks Herald
August 10, 2020
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? (Read more)
Nearly six years to replace Line 3 is too long
By Brian Emmel
Bemidji Pioneer
August 8, 2020
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. (Read more)
Support Minnesotans by supporting Line 3
By Dave Langfeld
Duluth News Tribune
August 7, 2020
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. (Read more)
The unemployed could benefit from Line 3
By Tim Flathers
Park Rapids Enterprise
August 5, 2020
Unemployment is on the rise all over this state. This is not advantageous for anyone, and it is especially challenging for communities throughout northern Minnesota that face additional issues of lower than average wages and historic underemployment.
There is a way we can respond to the challenge through safe and necessary construction projects, like the Line 3 Replacement Project. (Read more)
Line 3 will replace an aging pipeline
By Barry Simonson
Pilot Independent
August 4, 2020
The Line 3 Replacement Project has taken some large steps forward the last few months, most recently when the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) filed written orders resoundingly reaffirming their approval of the project’s Environmental Impact Statement, route permit and certificate of need.
PUC Commissioner Katie Sieben may have said it best at last month’s PUC hearing: “A new pipeline with thicker and safer materials, constructed with up to date safety standards by skilled laborers operating under prevailing wage laws is a better outcome than leaving an old pipeline that again was ordered by federal consent decree to seek replacement.” (Read more)
The Line 3 project is important to Minnesota
By Jim Lucachick
Minnpost
August 3, 2020
Why is building the Line 3 Replacement Project important to Minnesota?
One immediate reason is jobs. It will bring thousands of good-paying jobs and billions of dollars to our state, and with unemployment being on a steady rise since the start of the COVID pandemic, this is exactly what we need. (Read more)
Getting there
By Jed Holewa
Aitkin Independent Age
July 8, 2020
The MN PUC reaffirmed the need for Line 3 once again. Surprise? No.
Over the last several years they have been working tirelessly to make sure that this pipeline is done the right way for Minnesota. Once again, they’ve backed their decision. (Read more)
Move projects forward and get Americans back to work
By Bette Grande
Grand Rapids Herald Review
July 29, 2020
With more than 40 million Americans out of a job due to the coronavirus pandemic, states are scrambling to help the unemployed and laying plans to reopen the economy.
Many of the proposed measures could take time to bring relief. In at least two states, though, governors could get thousands of people back to work right away by removing obstacles to existing energy infrastructure projects. Considering the dire economic forecasts, it would be a shame not to let them move forward. (Read more)
Listen to PUC, start Line 3 project
By Joel Melander
Duluth News Tribune
July 27, 2020
Is Gov. Tim Walz listening? Why is his administration allowing the so-called “controversial” Line 3 Replacement Project to stay in limbo this long? I understand there’s pressure from the far left to not approve this pipeline, but that shouldn’t matter because even President Barack Obama’s administration gave a consent decree saying that this replacement was needed. (Read more)
Line 3 project leaping toward construction
By Barry Simonson
Duluth News Tribune
July 25, 2020
The Line 3 Replacement Project has taken some large steps forward over the last few months, most recently this past week when the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission filed written orders resoundingly reaffirming its approval of the project’s Environmental Impact Statement, route permit, and certificate of need. (Read more)
Line 3 would boost local economy
By Gary Kroening
Park Rapids Enterprise
July 23, 2020
One of the big controversies as of late has been the state’s push to use federal money to rebuild neighborhoods in the Twin Cities. This money from the bonding bill was originally intended to be spread around the state, as it should be.
Just because you aren’t located in the metro area does not mean that your city and projects don’t need and deserve funding. The far left of this state, which has a stranglehold on the metro area, is convinced that only the metro deserves it. (Read more)
Dropping oil won’t just happen overnight
By Terry Matson
Bemidji Pioneer
July 22, 2020
This past week “Almanac” on Twin Cities Public Television had guests on to talk about the Line 3 Replacement Project. One was a lawyer representing opponents of the project. One of his largest arguments was that the new Line 3 will carry more oil, and the opposition doesn’t think the demand for oil will rebound.
I find this hard to believe. Yes, people have been stuck quarantining currently because of a deadly virus, but life must and will go on. There will come a point when people are going to have to go back to work and school, and the public will continue on with their lives. (Read more)
Governor should listen to his PUC appointees
By Kory & Jennifer Anderson
Bemidji Pioneer
July 15, 2020
There are a lot of voices connected to the Line 3 replacement project. There are two newer voices on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission who said something important, and let’s hope the person who appointed them listens to what they have said. (Read more)
Keep Line 3 from crumbling
By Dylan Goudge
Leader Record
July 12, 2020
There is a big difference between headlines and the reality of what matters.
Instead of putting “pressure” on it, the recent court decisions about pipelines does more to show how Line 3 is different, better and ready to go to bring jobs and hope to Minnesota (“Three pipeline setbacks in two days turn heat up on Minnesota project,” July 7). (Read more)
Governor should listen to the PUC on Line 3
By Paul Gustafson
Bemidji Pioneer
July 8, 2020
When the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission was asked to reconsider their approval of the Line 3 replacement, they confirmed that they were going to stick with their original decision, yet again.
The fact that the PUC has to keep reconfirming this decision is illogical. It shows that the governor has no respect for his state departments and will allow delays to a project that keeps getting approved. (Read more)
Stop wasting time, money on Line 3 delays
By Andrew Mistic
Park Rapids Enterprise
July 8, 2020
Recently the PUC had to reconfirm its support of the Line 3 Replacement Project for what feels like the hundredth time. Opponents of the project like to point to foul play or claim they have been wronged in some way, which is not true. (Read more)
Let’s get to work on Enbridge Line 3
By Dennis Ross
Rochester Post Bulletin
July 3, 2020
For years now the state of Minnesota has been evaluating if a replacement for Enbridge’s Line 3 is worth it, and the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has been charged with determining if the project is necessary and meets state standards and regulations as well as approving the route for the replaced Line 3. (Read more)
To the Editor
By Mel Milender
Leader-Record
July 1, 2020
Here we are again – by denying petitions for reconsideration, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission essentially approved the Line 3 replacement project, one more time.
Now it is time that the people demand that the unnecessary lawsuits about this project be dropped and not filed. We also need the MPCA contested case be dropped as well. (Read more)
Minnesota needs petroleum and jobs
By Doug Rockstead
Bemidji Pioneer
July 1, 2020
The recent Pioneer article “Beltrami County unemployment rate highest since 2011” describes how the unemployment rate has skyrocketed since the COVID-19 shutdown in Beltrami County and other northern counties. Unemployment is up more than 10 percent since the start of quarantine. Many have speculated that even when the economy does fully open, that the unemployment rate won’t recover to what it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is one way that we could move the unemployment rate in a better direction in these counties. We need to approve the Line 3 Replacement Project and make sure construction starts this year. (Read more)
Line 3 has been thoroughly studied
By Tony Todavich
Park Rapids Enterprise
June 24, 2020
After years of study, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved the Line 3 replacement project multiple times. Recently, PUC Commissioner Joseph Sullivan said that we should use needed utility projects to put people back to work. This is a great idea, and at the forefront of this effort should be moving forward with the biggest infrastructure project available to us – the $2.6 billion Line 3 replacement project. (Read more)
Unions weigh in on Line 3 (IOUE Local 49)
By Jason George (IOUE Local 49)
Hibbing Daily Tribune
June 23, 2020
I strongly disagree with the decision made by Governor Walz to hold a contested case hearing on a simple water quality permit for the Line 3 replacement project. This is a basic construction permit, one that is issued for many other kinds of infrastructure projects. I understand the justification raised due to the Polymet permit decision on contested case hearings, but do not agree that this step was necessary in this case. (Read more)
Line 3 held up by political agendas
By Jed Holewa
Duluth News Tribune
June 23, 2020
The Line 3 Replacement Project is a multibillion-dollar project that is 100% funded with private money. The pipeline would be built exclusively by union workers, using the newest pipeline technology known to man. (Read more)
Unions weigh in on Line 3 (LiUNA Local 1097)
By Shawn Braford
Hibbing Daily Tribune
June 23, 2020
A one-week legislative special session is wrapping up without much to show for the workers and communities of Minnesota. Here in the Iron Range, the economic situation is in free fall and if there has ever been a Hail Mary pass we could use from our lawmakers, passing a large infrastructure bill right now would be it. (Read more)
Line 3 project puts people back to work
By Dave Nielson
Bemidji Pioneer
June 20, 2020
Recently Minnesota Public Utilities Commissioner Joseph Sullivan was quoted as saying:
“We could put a lot of people to work when it’s a hard time. It should be all hands on deck right now. There are a lot of people who could be put to work through these utility projects — projects that also have a public benefit.”
He’s right, and I found this quote as a fitting response to our current challenges. (Read more)
Approve Line 3 and put people to work
By Jim Schuelke
Minnpost
June 17, 2020
It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken an economic toll on employment rates, and people are desperate to get back to work. In a recent Minnpost article, PUC Commissioner Joseph Sullivan recently talked about how Minnesota needs to start taking advantage of utilities projects that can put people to work. Well, I can think of one project that could kickstart what this commissioner is talking about: The Line 3 Replacement Project. (Read more)
Stop wasting time
By Colleen Drow
Aitkin Independent Age
June 17, 2020
The MPCA recently decided to conduct a “Contested Case Hearing” for a key permit needed for the Line 3 replacement project. This is somewhat of a surprise now, considering that a hearing like this rarely happens. The MPCA says the reason for the hearing is from concerns about how pipelines cross wetland areas. (Read more)
Approving Line 3 was the right choice
By Matt Grossell
Duluth News Tribune
June 14, 2020
The June 2 letter, “Walz, Flanagan can help stop Line 3,” complained that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission “ignored a lot of voices” when approving the certificate of need and route permit for Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project. This isn’t about anyone being ignored; it’s about someone whining because they didn’t get their way. (Read more)
Don’t delay further on Line 3 project
By Jerry Hasnedl
Grand Forks Herald
June 13, 2020
It was disheartening to say the least to read this last week that the governor and the Pollution Control Agency have once again shifted the goal posts and delayed the construction of the Line 3 Replacement Project. As farmers like us get back into the fields and our communities come back to life after months of isolation, we all have plans. (Read more)
Letter to the editor
Gary Kroening
Tri-County Canary
June 9, 2020
It should be apparent to all of you who have paid attention that the game is clearly rigged. The system is designed to balance how we protect things that are important to Minnesota while also making sure we can have jobs and an economy that we want. The latest decision from the MPCA about the Line 3 Replacement project again shows that what the system is supposed to do and what it does in reality does not line up. (Read more)
Enbridge has been a good neighbor
By Thomas Anderson
Bemidji Pioneer
June 6, 2020
I have owned property in our community for many years. My family has had Enbridge pipelines on our property, and if we have had an issue, it has been quickly resolved. Over the years, the Enbridge team has been open, honest and very accommodating to our needs as landowners. (Read more)
Demand for oil isn’t going away anytime soon
By Jim Lucacheck
Bemidji Pioneer
June 6, 2020
The May 30 letter, “Line 3 is a bad investment for Minnesota,” shows a lack of awareness about the project, Minnesota’s energy needs, our usage of petroleum, and the state of energy technology for the foreseeable future. (Read more)
Minnesota needs Line 3
By LeRoy Schuelke
Park Rapids Enterprise
June 5, 2020
With the state Department of Commerce’s recent decision to challenge the certificate of need for Line 3 (again), I feel it’s necessary to remind people of the importance of this project. (Read more)
Stop Line 3 project delays
By Dennis Rossman
Rochester Post Bulletin
June 5, 2020
The Line 3 Replacement Project has been approved by the state of Minnesota so many times I don’t care to count. Countless taxpayer dollars have been wasted on an extended regulatory process for this project. Those many reviews have led to a pipeline project that has come up with solutions to every potential problem and been deemed safe by every agency that has had to work on it. This has happened over and over again. (Read more)
Facts trump emotions on Line 3 replacement
By Mike Schoneberger
Duluth News Tribune
June 1, 2020
For five years since Enbridge applied for permits to replace its Line 3, there have been reviews, public meetings, environmental impact assessments, cost-benefit analyses, approvals, more reviews, more environmental assessments, more public meetings, and more and more of all of the previously mentioned. After five years, Enbridge has stepped up and done everything asked of it and more. The $2.6 billion project is privately funded without tax dollars. Thousands of jobs and millions toward local northern-Minnesota communities are at stake. (Read more)
To the editor
By Jason Seitz
Tri-County Leader Record
May 28, 2020
It’s disappointing but unfortunately predictable that the legislature and the Governor could not find a way to pass a bonding bill. Minnesota always needs these important projects, and this year we need them even more. Let’s hope that compromise can happen to move things forward. In the meantime, we still need to get people back to work. If our lawmakers can’t agree on the bonding bill, they need to get together to make sure Line 3 happens. (Read more)
Facts remain unchanged
By Mike Schoneberger
Fargo Forum
May 28, 2020
It has been five years since Enbridge applied for Line 3’s replacement. Since then, over 70 public meetings have taken place, multiple organizations have followed minnesotansforline3.com’s mission to bring facts and information regarding vital infrastructure to those who wish to be more informed, as well as to dispel the disinformation spread from opposing groups. Since its inception, the facts remain unchanged. (Read more)
We need to get started on Line 3 project
By Donovan Evenwoll
Bemidji Pioneer
May 27, 2020
Nothing is going to make opponents of the Line 3 replacement project happy. Time and time again they come out with some new lawsuit or reason why Line 3 should not be rebuilt. The opposition would not care if the state did 10,000 different models that all said that Line 3 is safe; they would still find reason to oppose the project. (Read more)
In response: Line 3 a shovel-ready investment in Minnesota
By Jennifer Smith
Duluth News Tribune
May 20, 2020
In response to the May 11 commentary, “Post-pandemic, remove, don’t replace, Lines 3 and 5,” I write to correct a few mischaracterizations. The Line 3 Replacement Project is a shovel-ready, $2.6 billion private investment in Minnesota that will create 4,200 family-sustaining construction jobs filled mainly from local union halls. After 70 public hearings, thousands of hours of environmental study and siting reviews, and tens of thousands of public comments, it is the most studied pipeline project in state history. Allowed to move forward, it will protect our environment while making our communities more prosperous by generating millions of dollars in local construction spending and ongoing tax revenues for communities across northern Minnesota. (Read more)
Bring in Line 3 for the economy
By Mark Jacobson
Aitkin Independent Age
May 20, 2020
As the legislature and the governor debate what should happen to rebuild our local economy, we see that business at resorts and campgrounds is down by more than 70%. This is the time of the year when resorts make enough money to make it through the rest of the year. That’s clearly not going to happen this year because of COVID-19. What they need is a guarantee that there will be people coming to our towns, staying in hotels and resorts, and eating in restaurants. Nothing being debated by our lawmakers can deliver that. The only sure bet and guarantee we have to bring people and activity back to a big part of Minnesota is the Line 3 project. (Read more)
Project will keep businesses afloat
By Heidi Johnson
Bemidji Pioneer
May 20, 2020
This time of year is when Midwesterners start going to resorts all around Minnesota. With the state in lockdown, many of these resorts are going to miss their big money-making seasons. These resorts rely on spring and summer to make a lot of their money. The COVID-19 restrictions are already hurting these important businesses – potentially forcing many to have to close. One thing that could guarantee millions of dollars being spent in these communities is replacing Line 3. Thousands of laborers are going to need places to stay and eat in northern Minnesota This means all places need to be available like resorts. Not to mention that the money spent to build line 3 will bolster the bank accounts of all businesses in those areas. (Read more)
Oil is most reliable, available
By Korey & Jennifer Anderson
Park Rapids Enterprise
May 16, 2020
Recently Winona LaDuke wrote an article in “The Circle,” titled “Desperate pipeline companies try to push ahead during pandemic,” where she claims that the oil industry is dying, and that Line 3 is not necessary. What she completely misses is that oil is still the most reliable and available energy source our world has. (Read more)
The right question, the wrong idea as to what change means
Matt Gordon
Fargo Forum
May 14, 2020
For much of this year we have watched our world dramatically be altered by the impacts of the COVID-19 virus. We did not have a chance to ponder what kind of change we wanted. The reality of the virus and the threat it represents did not give anyone that option. (Read more)
Support for Line 3
By Marc and Tanner Olson
Grand Rapids Herald Review
May 13, 2020
You can’t count on much of anything with all the COVID-19 changes being made in our society. It’s hard to know what happens next and predictions seem to change every day. One thing we can guarantee is that once Line 3 construction begins there will be thousands of workers populating Minnesota spending millions of dollars. (Read more)
Northern Minnesota needs Line 3 project
By Summer Nitsch
Duluth News Tribune
May 12, 2020
It can be very frustrating that it takes forever to do the right thing in the state of Minnesota. For example, the approval of Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project has taken five years so far. In the end, this may have become a good thing. With all the research and studies done on the Line 3 project, it is clear we need this pipeline. It has been proven safe and technologically advanced, its route has been approved, and more. Every possible question asked by its opponents and the state has been answered tenfold. (Read more)
Line 3 means jobs and money in Minn.
By Joel Melander
Grand Forks Herald
May 12, 2020
With everything going on in the world today, it seems all we hear and see is bad news and wrong predictions. Let me tell you some good news: The Line 3 replacement project and the guarantee it represents. (Read more)
Enbridge’s Line 3 project will foster economy
By Paul Utke
Park Rapids Enterprise
May 11, 2020
As someone who has been blessed to be able to serve our communities as your state senator, I totally understand the challenges of the times that we are in.
I’ve been a business owner in our community, and a consumer, and have been through a lot with all of you, my neighbors. I want nothing more than to get us back to work and help foster a way that we can safely and responsibly open up Main Street to the kind of commerce that allows us all to thrive; together.
It was reassuring last week to read a letter to the editor submitted by Barry Simonson of Enbridge Energy. I have been an unapologetic supporter of replacing an aging Line 3 with newer technology and a pipeline that will help deliver critical American energy to our region. (Read more)
Make sure Line 3 moves forward
By Brian Hartje
Park Rapids Enterprise
May 10, 2020
One of the biggest challenges about the virus is realizing how fast things can change and how little control it seems we have.
There are many things that are also beyond the control of Gov. Walz and others who are trying to not only reduce the number of people who die from COVID-19, but also find a way to bring our state back to life. (Read more)
Line 3 needed, approved: no more appeals
By David McCollum
Duluth News Tribune
May 10, 2020
In February, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission accepted an updated environmental review as adequate for the Line 3 Replacement Project, granted the project its certificate of need, and approved the pipeline’s route permit. We have the final yesses from the PUC. Now what does this mean? This means Gov. Tim Walz and his administration need to let this project move forward and not delay it further with any more appeals. (Read more)
Line 3 is bigger than any stadium project
By Keith Winger
Bemidji Pioneer
May 9, 2020
The Public Utilities Commission recently reissued the orders to move forward with Line 3. This is good news at an important time, and I believe it’s time Gov. Walz renewed his commitment to “One Minnesota.”
Minnesota is hurting, and we need something to immediately kick start our economy in these dark times. While reopening more businesses may help, I know for a fact replacing Line 3 would be a huge boost for our economy and so many communities with hotels, restaurants and other businesses in desperate need of customers. (Read more)
Line 3 has promise post pandemic
By Kip Reinarz
Duluth News Tribune
May 5, 2020
We keep reading stories about the challenges that resorts are dealing with, knowing many of their regular customers will not be coming this year to fish or go on vacations. People can hope more of us will go back to the resorts and local communities to go fishing. (Read more)
It’s beyond time to approve Line 3 project
By Wayne Tieman
Bemidji Pioneer
May 2, 2020
Line 3 has been going through approvals for five years. It is beyond time to approve it. It is by far the most studied infrastructure project in the history of our state. Not to mention that almost everything we do in this world requires petroleum in some form. (Read more)
Line 3 project needed more than ever
By Craig Rossman
Park Rapids Enterprise
May 2, 2020
The economic and environmental necessity of Line 3 replacement was essential before the COVID-19 outbreak, but now is even more critical. The employers and employees of northern Minnesota have been hit hard by the pandemic. If we are unable to have a normal summer season in our area, many small businesses may not survive economically. (Read more)
LaDuke not telling the whole story
By Mike Schoneberger
Park Rapids Enterprise
May 1, 2020
In her April 16 opinion piece (“Enbridge pipeline workers aren’t ‘essential'”), Winona LaDuke claimed “The place is Lake George to the corner by the U.S. Hwy. 71 entrance to Itasca Park. There’s a clearly mowed patch down the right-of-way through the north country for the pipeline” (Read more)
Line 3 will help bring back economies
By Gary Kroening
Thief River Falls Times
April 29, 2020
To the Editor: Gov. Walz and the experts working with him will eventually figure out the best way to start turning Minnesota’s economy back on. How and when to do this will be a tough, but important decision. Deciding what the first steps should be after the decision is made is much easier (Read more)
Maintaining pipelines is essential work every day
By Barry Simonson
Park Rapids Enterprise
April 25, 2020
We can all agree that energy infrastructure is important – it’s what keeps our homes warm, cars and trucks fueled, equipment working in fields and forests. It powers industry, and drives our economy.
Although Winona LaDuke, in her April 16 commentary disagrees, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has decided pipeline workers are essential during the COVID-19 response. Actually, their work maintaining pipelines is essential every day. (Read more)
It’s time for the MPCA to issue permits
By Corine Richards
Bemidji Pioneer
April 25, 2020
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) held statewide telephone town hall meetings for the Enbridge Line 3 permit review process. The three different sessions were 90 minutes each on April 2, 7 and 9. These public comment periods were extended as a result of COVID-19. (Read more)
Pandemic doesn’t change need for project
By Doug Lindgren
Bemidji Pioneer
April 18, 2020
For those of us who are strong supporters of the maintenance of replacing the aging Line 3, if anything, the amount of public engagement has been redundant overkill. This project has indeed been put through every test and it has been the most open and easiest project in my memory. (Read more)
Operator, get me line 3
By Jim Schuelke
Minneapolis Star Tribune
April 16, 2020
COVID-19 has changed how we interact with each other. The recent Minnesota Pollution Control Agency public meetings to get feedback for the Enbridge Line 3 project were an example of an effective format to share ideas and opinions. Public meetings for this project are nothing new. What was different with these latest meetings was that it was done in a telephone town hall format. (Read more)
Line 3 still makes sense
By Erin Roth
Minneapolis Star Tribune
April 11, 2020
As with retail, hospitality and restaurants, the energy industry is experiencing an unprecedented decline in product demand as governments, businesses and consumers act to contain the spread of COVID-19. Downward crude oil prices and ongoing market volatility present a challenge for North American energy operators, but while temporary demand destruction is disruptive, projections demonstrate the long-term importance of petroleum products and critical infrastructure, including Line 3. (Read more)
In response column: Safe pipelines needed in transition time
By Mike Sams and Lance Klatt
Duluth News Tribune
April 4, 2020
As a rancher and farmer and as a leader of an organization representing mom-and-pop convenience stores across Minnesota, we want to provide a different perspective from the March 28 commentary in the News Tribune written by two Twin Cities activists and academics. Their column was headlined, “Reflect changing world, follow the science for Line 3.” (Read more)
The reality of economic transition
By Jeffrey Carlson
Bemidji Pioneer
April 1, 2020
As trying and hard as it has been to see what happens when our economy is forced to dramatically shut down, one lesson we need to take from this is how important it is to have a way to transition and make change happen in a way that reduces impacts on people. (Read more)
Replace Enbridge Line 3
By Kevin Fjelsted
Park Bugle
March 30, 2020
For simple and complex reasons, it’s time to move forward! Minnesota has reached an important time to act on something that is both simple and complex at the same time.
It’s time to move forward with plans to replace the Enbridge Line 3 oil pipeline. This means the State of Minnesota should drop its appeal of the PUC [Public Utilities Commission] approvals and let the process move forward. It clearly makes sense to something this old with something newer, better, stronger and safer. Line 3 was built in 1968 and needs to be replaced. (Read more)
Minnesota cannot wait to approve the Line 3 replacement project
By Korey & Jennifer Anderson
Grand Rapids Herald Review
March 28, 2020
s we wait for the virus to pass, the conversation will soon turn to what we do to recover and rebuild our economy.
The last time we were in a place like this, projects that were “shovel ready” were pushed ahead because they could create an immediate impact. (Read more)
Line 3 is even more important now
By Peter Nelson
Bemidji Pioneer
March 28, 2020
All of Minnesota has been hurt economically by COVID-19. Yet the pain hits harder in places that were already struggling. In northern Minnesota, we needed help before the virus hit. Now, we need immediate action. We need people working, staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants. (Read more)
In Response Column: Line 3 needed for transition to renewables
By Brad Shamla
Duluth News Tribune
March 27, 2020
In response to the March 13 letter, “Clean energy making Line 3 obsolete,” it seems some people are convinced we can move immediately to a 100%-renewable world. The reality is that the shift in energy is a transition, and we don’t have the luxury of shutting down conventional energy any time soon. (Read more)
We should get Line 3 built as soon as possible
By Dean Thompson
Fargo Forum
March 7, 2020
In response to “What is the bigger risk for Minnesota?” by Peter Truitt published Feb. 21:
If anyone is “trying to sell us,” it’s Peter Truitt and his attempt to dismiss the reality of how we get, move and use energy.
We are going to continue to need and use oil for the near future. The only real question that Truitt would like us all to ignore is what is the best and safest way for this to happen. (Read more)
Line 3 opponents undermining their own arguments
By Craig Stevens
Duluth News Tribune
March 4, 2020
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission voted 3-1 in early February to approve an updated environmental impact statement to replace the aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota. The replacement is necessary to preserve the surrounding environment and ensure the safe transport of crude oil. The commission’s approval was key for the pipeline’s developer, Enbridge, to move forward on obtaining the remaining necessary permits from both state and federal regulators. (Read more)
Letter to the editor: Protesters went too far with Gov. Walz’s campus visit
By Drew Allred
Minnesota Daily
March 1, 2020
The University of Minnesota is a hub for political debate and thought that gets people talking. A lot of things that happen here at the University of Minnesota get people talking.
Last fall’s football season was just one example. Unfortunately, what happened last Friday was another one when protesters stopped our governor from having a chance to have a simple conversation. (Read more)
Line 3 replacement needs to move forward
By Kiya West
Bemidji Pioneer
February 15, 2020
Too often it seems that it is easier to be against something than it is to be for something. It is even harder to be for something that takes a long time to get done.
The Enbridge Line 3 replacement project is obviously one of these projects. (Read more)
The realities behind LaDuke’s 7 year story
By Mike Schoneberger
Fargo Forum
February 12, 2020
In a recent column by Winona Laduke regarding Line 3 and the Public Utility Commission, she tells of a seven-year story of heroes, villains, and corporate greed to influence the reader’s emotions. This is not the story at all.
The real story is about choosing the safest method to protect our water when transporting a commodity that the world – and Minnesota – currently is dependent on. (Read more)
Line 3 brings the opportunity of work
By Peter Knapp
Grand Forks Herald
February 1, 2020
While the Line 3 replacement project will be a much-needed update to aging infrastructure and the safest way to transport oil, there is another benefit it brings Minnesota that is often gets lost in the debate: the dignity of work. (Read more)