Mortenson Construction is one of the largest renewable-energy construction firms in the country, but it appears the firm will be dolling out less “green” to their laborers. A recent story…
Minnesota is one step closer to opening its first copper-nickel mine, as the State Court of Appeals has rejected a lawsuit from anti-mining groups who had hoped to force PolyMet…
Solar energy is often touted as a way to spur jobs growth throughout the entire state of Minnesota, but a recent jobs report from the solar industry shows the vast…
According to the United States Geological Survey, Minnesota mined $4.05 billion in non-fuel minerals in 2018, making it the fifth-largest state for mining, in terms of the value of minerals…
Earth Day is the perfect day to inform our readers that new data show the benefits of non-ferrous mining could be even bigger than our report indicated last summer, if…
The Clean Energy Economy Minnesota jobs report will likely draw favorable media coverage, but a deeper look at the numbers exposes the fact that these numbers are artificially inflated by…
The following article originally appeared in the St. Paul Pioneer Press: Gov. Tim Walz recently announced his plan to make Minnesota’s electricity 100 percent carbon-free by 2050, and while the…
Governor Walz has made expanding electric vehicle (EV) usage in Minnesota a high priority for his administration. In February, the Department of Transportation announced that transit officials want 20 percent…
Renewable-energy advocates often cite increasing demand for steel, copper, nickel, and cobalt as a reason why Minnesotans on the Iron Range should support more renewable-energy mandates. There is no doubt…
Great news! The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has granted the final permits for the PolyMet copper-nickel project in northern Minnesota to move forward. According to PCA: “The Minnesota Pollution Control…
We often hear from so-called progressives that we must fight income inequality and move toward renewable energy, but the problem is these two goals are incompatible with each other. This is…
The proposed PolyMet copper-nickel, and precious metal mine took a major step forward as the Minnesota DNR has just issued the permit to mine, stating the project meets Minnesota’s environmental…
Despite what its detractors say, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed last year has been an unqualified success. Unemployment is at its lowest rate since 1969, wages are rising…
The Minnesota state demographer expects the population in five northern counties to shrink, on net, by 9,710 people by 2050. That is, unless 8,500 people are employed as a result…
Harvard economist omitted key jobs numbers in his analysis.
Ronald Reagan once said the best welfare program was a job. Turns out it may be the best college loan policy, as well.
The Duluth News Tribune ran an interesting article on the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was meant to expedite the exchange of land between Polymet Mining…
Sometimes Governor Mark Dayton does the right thing, like he did when he reinstated the mineral rights for the former Essar Steel taconite mine.
Minnesota needs a change in energy policy, and fast. Otherwise, large electricity consumers like iron mines will suffer the consequences.
Of $31 million distributed from the Permanent School Fund in 2017, 52% went to metropolitan area school districts. The vast majority of these funds were generated from mining. This begs…
The Star Tribune reports the U.S. Department of the Interior reinstated the Twin Metals Minnesota mineral leases from 2004 and its application for new leases. The measures reverse last-minute regulations…
Wind and solar advocates inflate their job numbers while downplaying the jobs in other sectors of the energy industry.
Minnesota has a long history of mining iron ore, which continues to this day. In fact, nearly 75 percent of the iron ore produced in the United States is mined…