Sen. Utke statement on PUC approval of Enbridge Line 3 certificate of need

On Thursday, June 28, 2018, The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the “certificate of need” for the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project on a 5-0 vote with all five members of the commission speaking in favor of the project.

Senator Paul Utke issued the following statement:

“The PUC’s decision Thursday to approve both Enbridge’s “certificate of need” and proposed route brings great news to the people of Northern Minnesota. The region has waited many years for the approval of this project which will provide thousands of new construction jobs, increased state and local revenue, plus enhanced environmental protections. With one of the last significant hurdles cleared, I look for Enbridge’s project to swiftly move through the remaining steps so that we can get this project underway.”

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commision also took a vote to determine the route of the replacement pipeline, after considering both Enbridge’s preferred route and the route Enbridge is currently using.  After deliberation the commission voted 3-2 to follow Enbridge’s proposed path, making only slight changes to avoid Big Sandy Lake.

The proposed project will replace the current 1,031 miles of pipeline with the newest, safest, and most advanced pipeline technology while bringing jobs and significant investments to northern Minnesota. As it stands, the original pipeline only operates at half capacity due to concern over the integrity and safety of the aging line. Upon completion, the international project will increase North American oil production helping to meet the domestic demand and lowering energy costs across the continent.

A study by the University of Minnesota Duluth determined the project would bring over $2 billion in direct and related spending. Additionally, the project would create an estimated 8,600 jobs, amounting to a payroll of $344 million over two years and additional $19.5 million in property tax revenue annually.