There was no shortage of discussion and disagreement leading up to the Line 3 Replacement Project that spanned 16 counties across many northwestern Minnesota communities.
It was the longest and most thoroughly reviewed project of its kind in Minnesota history and has been in operation for months. It also was a project that divided many into either supporting or opposing it.
No matter your view of the project, it’s hard to dispute the recent economic impact study by the University of Minnesota Duluth Labovitz School of Business and Economics Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
You can’t just make these numbers up or pull them out of thin air. More importantly, they have played out in real ways across our community to families and business owners. It’s worth noting some of the highlights:
- Nearly $1.7 billion in employee wages and benefits
- Nearly $2.2 billion in value added spending
- More than $5 billion in new spending
- On average, 4,157 jobs per year in the region during the period, with peak employment reaching more than 14,000 jobs in 2021, which was the peak of the construction activity
- Roughly 50% of the project’s construction laborers were residents of the 16-county project area
To the community I represent, this study produced more than a list of statistics. It brought meaningful change to the quality of life for them and their families.
And, while many restaurant and retail shops struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw just as many immediately thrive when construction started, as thousands of workers became customers at such a key time.
Generally speaking, every Clearbrook business experienced revenue increases. The top revenue producers were Bakkens Market who saw a 25% increase and Community Oil peaked with a 30% increase. Sure, this is good for the business owner, but we all know that trickles down to the workers they employ as well. That’s real money in the pockets of our community members.
[image_caption]Dylan Goudge[/image_caption]
So, what do those numbers really mean for my community?
- There are more skilled workers because of this project. They got the on-the-job training in construction to be a part of this work, but more importantly, that’s a skill they are taking to a future employer that they might not have had before.
- Businesses aren’t just surviving anymore. They are growing. The tourism industry, including restaurants, hotels, and retail had to scale up and it hasn’t slowed down.
- Families are doing more than just getting by. They are thriving because of the newly trained worker in their household or the boom to their family business.
- The tax base for our region and our state has become more stable. The economic investment and impact by Enbridge that we will see over the next years means the positive impact of this project will continue into the future. Those are real dollars having a real impact every day in our schools, for our roads and bridges, and public safety.
It’s hard to do anything without controversy these days. To me, there’s nothing controversial about these numbers. Our community is better for it because of this project.
Dylan Goudge is the mayor of Clearbrook, Minnesota.
Sounds great for the community. Line 3 is now safer, upgraded and capable of moving more oil. Just think what Keystone XL will do in 2 years when the anti oil folks are out of office.
Just think what the impact on the states that the Keystone extension would have produced. Thanks for nothing Brandon!! Also there would be more Canadian oil available for domestic use and Canada has already agreed to send more to the USA without brandon kowtowing to the opec countries. A failure from day one of the brandon administration.
Also it should be touted that Midwestern oil refineries which are fed by the Enbridge are part of a strategic plan which allows for continuous production of petroleum-based products even when the coastal refineries are shut down or limited production due to the hurricane season or other disasters.
Most of the readers, including me, are to young to remember the Alaskan Highway (ALCAN highway) project prior to WWII which assured a link between the lower 48 and what was then known as the Alaskan territory. My father worked on this project so it remains a vivid memory to me. The Enbridge lines supply refineries which if the coastal refineries were ever attacked we would still have a supply of petroleum-based products from inland refineries. It’s called planning ahead and hopefully we will never need to utilize this feature, but as we see time and again politicians are unable to see beyond the end of their noses as are those who think they are here to save the earth.
So a guy who studied history, political science, and law…and was among the lowest of his class in grades, served his life in public office and getting while the getting was good for him and his family knows economics?? Huh – I hope you’re trying to make a joke. Still, Biden’s presidency is a joke. No one could ever think anyone was worse than Carter but we got it.
It is apparent your boy brandon biden is incapable of knowing where he is, what day it is, and like the old codger he is, tells his lies so often he believes them to be true.
Apparently you are unaware that the Keystone extension is only the last part of a totally functional line from Alberta to the gulf coast. The gulf extension: The southern leg of the Keystone XL ties into the existing Keystone pipeline that already runs to Canada, bringing up to 700,000 barrels of oil a day to refineries in Texas. At peak capacity, the pipeline will deliver 830,000 barrels of oil per day. While the pipeline is initially carried U.S. light crude, it is expected to carry more heavy Canadian oil harvested from tar sands over the next year.
This happened in 2012 thanks to your boy odumbo’s involvement. You do understand that this pipeline carries oil from other sources, or maybe you don’t? Do your homework, or like brandon/biden have someone read to you and explain how it really works. You must have attended some of the schools supported by education MN and it’s union members.
Carin Peterson: Do you understand that ALL construction projects are temporary and always have been?? Do you understand that a learned skill such as welding is not forgotten nor is it only useable on a pipeline. Yes, one might need to learn the latest aspects of the trade, but the basic skill still remains. Not every person wants to remain in the small town and try in be the big frog in the little pond. You sound like so many I grew up with in small town MN that were afraid of leaving the protection of moms basement and the small town acceptance of you and your limited abilities.
As for leaks in the lines, pressure monitoring in the new lines has remanded these to near nonexistant. Transport of the increased oil production by rail is much more likely to cause a spill than even the old lines that have outlived their usefulness.
Here are facts, not your propaganda, on the real cost to ship oil by rail, truck, or by sea and maybe even you could understand the real cost. Check for yourself and stop listening to cnn and the rest of the MM talking heads.
https://www.gloucestercitynews.net/clearysnotebook/2021/03/my-entry.html
Those ‘rose colored glasses’ look good on you Dylan.. as long as you keep avoiding admission of the impending consequences of this pollution-generating pipeline.
Well, Mayor, Clearbrook may have benefitted economically, i.e in pecuniary financial terms but this is at the cost of what we know so far at least the breaches of three artisian aquifers, at who knows what social cost.
Economics as a science has fallen far short of measuring the external costs of what we as a society have assumed internally are improvements. If you define an economic study based upon optimistic assumptions that exclude the negative externalities, your results will invariably support your assumptions. Our children and grandchildren will look back one day at our Dr. Panglossian outlook and be amazed at how our rose colored glasses blinded us to the realities in front of our noses.
Economic gains are always welcome. Especially on the micro – personal level.
But it’s important to keep some perspective.
Exactly HOW many families actually benefitted and exactly how long will the benefits be felt?
Will this newly trained, skilled labor translate in ACTUAL future employment & higher sustained wages? Jobs that will keep folks in the area? Or require relocation?
Tourism is up. Now.
How long will that last if these leaks and spills continue?
If more aquifer damage is discovered and water is contaminated…will drinking water become scarce?
How will the local tribes be able to recover if their traditional wild rice beds are destroyed?
The short view is rosy. For some.
Keep in mind the long view…and a wider view.
Not everyone was blessed by the trickle down effect.
Some may have been harmed.
We need a full picture.
Of all parties in the area.
Just sayin
If one applies thinking and logic to Line 3 and Keystone, it is easy to see that it is not a one size fits all decision. Line 3 replaced an existing leaky old line that could have been plugged and repaired forever on the old route. The new route is safer environmentally and the pipeline much more reliable and safe than the old one. It’s main detraction by its’ opponents is simply that its’ carrying capacity is restored to what one could expect from a line of that size: the old one was de-rated because it would spring leaks here, there and everywhere. A 36″ line that is reliable replaced a 34″ leaky, unreliable line. Get over it.
Keystone is not fixing a problem like line 3. It is simply a tool to get Canadian tar sands oil to refineries in Texas where it can then be exported. So much for energy independence. Oh, wait, we are already energy independent. Tar sands oil will die its’ own unprofitable death: done in be more affordable sources and increasing, GASP!, affordable, renewable energy sources.
Thumbs up Line 3. Die Keystone XL.