On November 12, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the issuance of the final state level permits required for the Enbridge Line 3 tar sands oil pipeline. At least one additional federal permit is required before construction can begin. An ongoing legal challenge by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, White Earth Nation, Red Lake Band of Chippewa, and multiple environmental organizations is also underway.
“We are disappointed in the Walz Administration’s decision to issue permits to Enbridge for the Line 3 tar sands pipeline,” said Anjali Bains, Senior Policy Associate, Beneficial Electrification at Fresh Energy. “Nationally, and globally, it has become clear that clean electric transportation is the future. Fossil fuel infrastructure such as Line 3 is obsolete upon completion and simply not needed.”
On the same day as MPCA’s announcement, the CEO of General Motors went on record stating that America’s largest automobile manufacturer believes in an all-electric future, following the company’s announcement this week that it will be hiring an additional 3,000 workers to support electric vehicle production.
Through Fresh Energy’s beneficial electrification program, we are continuing to advance clean, equitable transportation solutions for all Minnesotans.