Minnesota Public Utilities Commission denies stay; work on Line 3 continues

December 04, 2020

Today, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission voted 4-1 against a motion to stay, or pause, the project.

This decision is a reconfirmation of the Minnesota PUC’s previous approvals for the replacement of Line 3. Enbridge hopes all parties will now accept the outcome of this thorough, science-based review of Line 3. The project has passed every test through six years of regulatory and permitting review, including 70 public comment meetings, appellate review and reaffirmation of a 13,500-page EIS, four separate reviews by administrative law judges, 320 route modifications in response to stakeholder input, and multiple reviews and approvals by the Minnesota PUC for the project’s certificate of need and route permit.

This essential maintenance and safety replacement project is a $2.6-billion private investment in Minnesota. Currently there are over 1,000 men and women from the skilled trades working on Line 3. The workforce will ramp up as construction continues eventually creating over 4,000 family-sustaining, mostly local construction jobs, millions of dollars in local spending and additional tax revenues at a time when Northern Minnesota needs it most.

Safety is our top priority. To protect our team, workers and surrounding communities, Enbridge has instituted strict and industry-leading coronavirus testing and screening protocols. These include repeated, regular COVID-19 testing and daily health and temperature screenings, as well as required on-site safety protocols like wearing masks, observing strict physical distancing, and regularly sanitizing work areas. We will continue to follow the latest guidance provided by local, federal and international public-health and government authorities to protect workers and communities.

The project is currently providing significant economic benefits for counties, small businesses, Native American communities, and union members. Line 3 is complete and in-service in Canada and Wisconsin, and is complete in North Dakota, leaving only the segment in Minnesota not yet replaced with a state-of-the-art pipeline, made of thicker steel with more advanced coatings that will protect the environment for generations to come.