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

Senator Eichorn issued the following statement:

“It’s been a long process, but it looks like Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project has finally cleared the last of the  PUC’s hurdles and is now poised to begin planning to break ground.  This is a huge win for the people of Northern Minnesota as the project is a critical component of sustaining economic viability in our region. The project, which has received broad support from the people in our area, will create good-paying jobs, generate revenue for our local communities, and revitalize the area. Make no mistake this project has taken the appropriate amount time to vet all potential concerns, and Enbridge has worked with the PUC, the Department of Commerce, and thousands of locals to ensure that the replacement line will be secure and benefit our state both environmentally and economically.”

The proposed project would 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.