Supporters Turn Up Heat on Dayton to Approve Pipeline

Supporters of the Enbridge 3 pipeline in northern Minnesota paid a visit to Gov. Mark Dayton’s office at the State Capitol. They dropped off a petition with more than 1,200 signatures in support of the $3 billion project Dayton’s administration has held up in regulator red tape for the last three years.

The petition from Minnesotans for Pipeline 3 lays it on the line regarding the economic and environmental importance of the pipeline project to communities and counties along its route.  It states:

We believe that pipelines are critical to providing the energy our homes, vehicles and businesses depend on as Minnesota does not produce its own oil.  Pipelines are a vital part of Minnesota’s economy and will be for years to come.  Pipelines are the most efficient and safest way to transport energy to where it’s needed today and into the future.

Replacing Line 3 will make sure our pipeline network continues to safely provide Minnesota families, communities, and our economy access to energy.

That is why we support the Line 3 replacement project. The Line 3 replacement is clearly needed, is ready to go, has been thoroughly reviewed, and will not only benefit the communities where it will be built – it will help our entire state.

The opportunity is now!

The replacement pipeline enjoys support from agriculture, business, labor unions and politicians from both sides of the aisle of the Minnesota Legislature.

Sen. Mark Johnson R-E. Grand Forks and Rep. Debra Kiel R-Crookston
Sen. Minority Leader Tom Bakk DFL-Cook
Pennington Co. Commissioner Neil Peterson and wife Nicole

The biggest question for Gov. Dayton is why wouldn’t he support the pipeline, particularly on environmental grounds? A union laborer in the Star Tribune puts it this way.

Mark Salmon, a retired member of Roofer’s Local 96 in Sturgeon Lake, Minn., said the project will add jobs and update aging infrastructure. He signed a card to show his support for what he called “a no-brainer.”

“You’ve got old pipes and new technology that’s safer,” said Salmon, whose property is not affected by the proposed new route. “If you’re worried about the environment, why wouldn’t you want something that’s safer than something that’s been there for however many years and could bust?”

The Enbridge project will go up for final approval before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission later this month. Regardless of the outcome, the pipeline and its energy, economic and environmental benefits promise to be a key issue in the 2018 campaign.