On Friday, Enbridge announced its decision to delay the Enbridge Line 3 replacement pipeline until the second half of 2020, a year longer than was initially expected. That decision was the result of an appeal by Department of Commerce of the Public Utilities Commission’s approval of the Certificate of Need and Governor Walz’s decision to continue moving forward with that challenge under his administration.
 
Senator Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) issued the following statement in response:

“Enbridge’s proposed project has gone through nearly five years of review with all agencies unanimously supporting the project. Yet, the Governor continues to move forward with a review. The project will not be completed for at least an additional year costing jobs, environmental safety, and tax revenue that many of our communities so desperately need.”

Senator Johnson has been a long supporter of the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project. 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 an additional $19.5 million in property tax revenue annually.