Senator David Osmek (R-Mound), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy, issued the following statement concerning Gov. Walz’s decision to continue the Dayton Administration’s Minnesota taxpayer funded lawsuit to oppose the Enbridge Line 3 replacement project:

“After an exhaustive four-year review process, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) voted unanimously to approve the “certificate of need” for the replacement of the Line 3 pipeline last summer. And, just last week, the Minnesota Court of Appeals dismissed this lawsuit, along with five others, challenging the project. Yet, Governor Walz plans to continue this circus in court, all on the taxpayer dime.

In his statement announcing the lawsuit, Governor Walz claimed “projects like these don’t only need a building permit to go forward, they also need a social permit.” Governor Walz’s arbitrary standard of a “social permit” is nothing more than hallow political rhetoric that abandons his campaign promise of “One Minnesota.” The truth is, there is no more time for costly delays. Originally ordered to be replaced in the Obama Administration, the Line 3 project has been extensively vetted and meets our state’s regulatory standards. Further, this application has jumped through thirty different approval hoops and has bipartisan support in the Legislature. 

Governor Walz’s decision puts our environment and the safety of every Minnesotan at risk. The current pipeline is at reduced capacity due to problems with its integrity and replacing it now would ensure oil is transported in the safest way possible across our state. Also, just last week, radical eco-terrorists were arrested attempting to break into a facility to manually shutdown Line 3.

I will be introducing legislation to allow the PUC authorization and have no further delays. While Governor Walz has decided to side with eco-terrorists and delay this project, I stand with the thousands of Minnesotans who will benefit from sustainable, good-paying jobs in our state, improving our Greater Minnesota communities, and perhaps most importantly, protecting millions of Minnesotans by transporting oil in the safest way possible.”

Senator David Osmek (R-Mound) serves in the Minnesota State Senate and is the Chairman of the Energy & Utilities Finance & Policy Committee. He represents District 33, which is comprised of Hennepin and Carver Counties.