State Rep. Dale Lueck, R-Aitkin, joined a bipartisan group of Minnesota legislators who recently wrote to Gov. Tim Walz, urging him to make sure Line 3 construction begins this year.
“It's time to stop the Minnesota Department of Commerce from wasting more taxpayer dollars on further efforts to obstruct this important project,” Lueck stated in a news release.
The letter stressed the benefits the project would provide in northern Minnesota, including an infusion of more than $2.6 billion in private-sector investment and more than 4,000 jobs at a time the state could use an economic surge.
“While all of Minnesota is dealing with the economic impact of COVID-19, it is even more pressing for the 14 counties where Line 3 will be built. The Department of Employment and Economic Development shows the average percentage of people in these 14 ‘Line 3 Counties’ who have filed unemployment insurance claims has increased every week for months and is now close to 24%,” the letter reads in part. “These communities need the economic lifeline that Line 3 will provide.”
Lueck said the letter's bipartisan tone should be well-received by the governor.
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“At a time when it seems there is an even greater partisan divide in Minnesota,” the letter reads, “we have come together from across the political aisle to ask for your support by making sure Line 3 construction starts this year. We represent the people and communities along the route who strongly support this project and have attended meetings, submitted thousands of comments, and who have come together to support the project for more than five years.
“All that remains before construction can start are two key decisions that require your action and decision,” the letter also states. “We implore you to not appeal the PUC’s (Minnesota Public Utilities Commission) actions on the certificate of need! We also ask you to make sure the MPCA (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) issues the permits so that construction can start this year. We call on you to say YES to Line 3 and NO to any more appeals and delays.”
The full letter is available at house.mn/10b .
