MINNEAPOLIS — Opponents of Enbridge Energy’s proposed Line 3 crude oil pipeline replacement may turn their attention to fighting the project on other fronts as a Minnesota regulatory panel prepares to take one of its final steps to allow it to proceed. The Public Utilities Commission on Thursday was scheduled to discuss petitions by environmental and tribal groups for the panel to reconsider its decision in June to approve a route permit for the line across northern Minnesota. Those opponents acknowledge that they hold out little hope, given that the commission earlier this month quickly and unanimously rejected their petitions to reconsider the project’s certificate of need. That vote triggered a walkout and a march to the office of Gov.-elect Tim Walz, a Democrat. Both sides since then have been mobilizing their supporters to attend Thursday’s PUC meeting. Minnesotans for Line 3, a business-labour-community coalition, expects that a large contingent of blue-hatted Line 3 supporters will arrive early, spokesman Mike Zipko said. Groups fighting the project concede that persuading their people to show up and wait in line in the cold for an uncertain chance at a seat is getting harder. "We don’t expect them to reconsider, but we […]
