LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Reaping the rewards of Line 3

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By Bruce Bjerke, Leonard

October 20, 2021 at 5:15 AM

There is nothing better than a project like the Line 3 pipeline replacement project. The benefits are countless, some of which will not be realized for years to come.

The impact on our workforce is one that should not be overlooked. Thanks to this project, there were thousands of workers hired, with most being from right here in Minnesota. This job prioritized working with our local unions and cleared out the union halls to add to their crew.

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Additionally, Enbridge鈥檚 efforts to prioritize investments in Minnesota鈥檚 tribal communities are next to none. More than $300 million was spent through training and hiring efforts as well as in partnerships with Native American-owned contractors. There are hundreds of Minnesota tribal members who now have valuable work training and new skills to benefit their lives for years.

At a time when many Americans lack the necessary skills and training for these sorts of trade jobs, we are lucky to have a better educated and experienced workforce that will serve us well for decades.

On top of this, more than $200 million was injected into Minnesota鈥檚 economy from this project, and Enbridge鈥檚 property taxes in our state will more than double since completed.

The list of benefits from the Line 3 pipeline project goes on and on, and we will be reaping the rewards for a long time.

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Reaping the rewards of Line 3

The following is a letter to the editor submitted to the Bemidji Pioneer by a reader. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bemidji Pioneer. To submit a letter, email letters@bemidjipioneer.com or mail it to Bemidji Pioneer, P.O. Box 455, Bemidji, MN 56601.