EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 8/31/22
PIPELINE NEWS
Bloomberg: TC Energy, Indigenous partners fall out after end of Keystone XL pipeline
KMCH: Delaware County Board of Supervisors Opposed to Proposed Carbon Pipeline
The Gazette: Cedar County residents demand answers about proposed pipeline
KMA: Montgomery County receives pipeline project input
KEYC: Summit Carbon Solutions hosts event regarding proposed CO2 pipeline
WQAD: ADM-backed proposed carbon pipeline to pass through several QCA counties, including Clinton Co.
KCRG: First public meetings held for carbon capture pipeline
Bnamericas: TC Energy's Mexican Gulf pipeline faces environmental opposition
Energetic City: TC Energy holds open house to introduce pipeline project
WASHINGTON UPDATES
E&E News: Court faults NEPA review for 2 Trump offshore lease sales
STATE UPDATES
WyoFile: ExxonMobil to store CO2 on BLM lands in Wyoming
Press release: Governor Hochul Announces Maine and Rhode Island Join Multi-State Agreement to Propose a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub
KQED: Watered-Down State Bill to Punish Refinery Pollution Gets Scrapped After Oil Industry Pushback
EXTRACTION
CarbonCredits.com: Planned Carbon Capture Project Pipeline Almost 1 Billion Tonnes
CLIMATE FINANCE
Guardian: US fossil fuel firm sues insurer for refusing to cover climate lawsuit
OPINION
Roanoke Times: Chisholm: The Mountain Valley Pipeline is dead. Time for Senator Warner to realize it.
Register Herald: Pipeline puts the Greenbrier and our communities at risk
Brainerd Dispatch: Reader Opinion: Enbridge’s investment
PIPELINE NEWS
Bloomberg: TC Energy, Indigenous partners fall out after end of Keystone XL pipeline
Robert Tuttle, 8/30/22
“An Indigenous-backed energy company is seeking $50 million (US$38.2 million) from pipeline operator TC Energy Corp. after a falling out between partners on the now-abandoned Keystone XL project,” Bloomberg reports. “Natural Law Energy Inc., a group representing a number of Indigenous communities in Western Canada, is asking for “financial compensation for all the losses of income and the lost opportunities for future income” associated with an investment agreement signed in November 2020, according to a letter signed by Natural Law Chief Executive Officer Travis Meguinis and seen by Bloomberg News. Natural Law agreed that year to invest as much as $1 billion in Keystone XL… “Natural Law’s memorandum of understanding with TC Energy included possible equity stakes in other projects, according to Meguinis’s letter. But no deals came to fruition and TC Energy informed Natural Law that it intends to end the investment agreement, the company said in an email… “We have a long-standing relationship with the signatory Nations and remain committed to working directly with each Nation to understand their priorities and seek future opportunities to work together,” Calgary-based TC Energy said in a statement emailed to Bloomberg. Companies including TC Energy and Suncor Energy Inc. have turned to alliances and equity partnerships with Indigenous groups in try to overcome overcome opposition to building new projects… “After Keystone XL’s cancellation, TC Energy and the Alberta government sought US$15 billion in compensation from the U.S. government in a request for arbitration filed in November. Natural Law was excluded from participating in the case and wasn’t told that such action would be brought, according to Meguinis’s letter. “This bad faith activity had damaged financial and economic opportunities for Natural Law” and its participating Indigenous groups, he wrote.”
KMCH: Delaware County Board of Supervisors Opposed to Proposed Carbon Pipeline
Janelle Tucker, 8/30/22
“The Delaware County Board of Supervisors will be doing everything they can to prevent a carbon capture pipeline from coming through their county,” KMCH reports. “A company called Navigator CO2 is proposing to build the Heartland Greenway pipeline across Iowa, with the route proposed from the Dyersville ethanol plant west through farmland north of Earlville, Delaware and Manchester into Buchanan County and then northwest across the state… “While the pipeline will be passing through rural parts of Delaware County, landowners say they’re not the only ones affected because it will come within two miles of Manchester’s city limits – two miles within the Delaware County fairgrounds, the Beckman Sports Complex and Lambert Elementary and West Delaware Middle School. Around a dozen landowners showed up at the Delaware County Supervisors meeting on Monday to share their concerns – which deal mostly with safety – and to find out what could be done. And after hearing their concerns, each of the Delaware County Supervisors publicly announced Monday they are opposed to the pipeline. Supervisor Jeff Madlom: Buschmann says he just attended a conference of the Iowa State Association of Counties with elected county officials from all across the state last weekend – and the pipeline was what everyone was talking about. Supervisor Shirley Helmrichs: Helmrichs says Delaware County will do everything they can to stop the pipeline. But she says the landowners need to show up and make their voices be heard at the Iowa Utilities Board’s public hearing on the project in October.”
The Gazette: Cedar County residents demand answers about proposed pipeline
Brittney J Miller, 8/30/22
“Cedar County residents crowded the Tipton High School auditorium Monday night for an informational meeting about a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline that would slice through eastern Iowa,” The Gazette reports. “...During the 3 1/2-hour meeting, attendees posed questions about safety, conflicts of interest on the Iowa Utilities Board and a supposed lack of compliance with required meeting notifications for impacted residents. Wolf representatives also spoke about eminent domain and said they intend not to use it when constructing the pipeline… “The pipeline corridor’s two-mile width should help Wolf avoid using eminent domain to connect its path, said Nick Noppinger, the company’s senior vice president of corporate development… “We take a big stance on voluntary easements,” Noppinger said. “We’ve never done eminent domain over the course of our collective careers. We intend to do the same with this project.” Wolf’s intention to not use eminent domain was not enough for many meeting attendees. Julie Broulik of Linn Township said the proposed pipeline endangers some of the county’s most vulnerable populations and lands — including the farm her late husband left to her 17-year-old son. “My teenage son wants to know if eminent domain is used by force without his consent, or if any of his neighbors decide to go ahead and submit to this … how are you going to compensate him for this recurring risk?” she asked Wolf representatives. “Failure will occur. And it's not a matter of if, but it's a matter of when and who it happens to.” Attendees continued to address safety concerns with the proposed pipeline, some referencing Mississippi’s carbon dioxide pipeline explosion in 2020 that forced 300 evacuations and 45 hospitalizations. Several people inquired about local investments in safety, like funding and training for emergency services… “Other attendees asked about setback requirements for the pipeline, particularly near homes. Patrick Brierly, Wolf’s vice president of engineering, said that pipelines are regulated by pressure according to how many people are in the near vicinity. There are no mandated requirements for distance between pipelines and occupied structures because pipelines sometimes run through urban areas or to individual homes. “The more people there are, the bigger the pipeline has to be,” he said. “Setbacks for pipelines don’t exist.”
KMA: Montgomery County receives pipeline project input
Mike Peterson, 8/30/22
“Proposed carbon dioxide pipeline projects was a hot topic of discussion at a recent statewide event,” KMA reports. “Montgomery County officials were among those in attendance at last week's Iowa State Association of Counties' annual convention in Des Moines. Some of the convention's meetings included those organized by Shelby County Supervisor Steve Kenkel, who outlined his county's ordinance governing carbon sequestration projects, such as Summit Carbon Solution's proposed Midwest Express pipeline planned for a good portion of western Iowa. Supervisor Donna Robinson says numerous counties are modeling Shelby County's ordinance. In addition, Robinson received input from officials in other counties about the need for pipeline regulations… “In some counties, Robinson told KMA boards of supervisors are working with county planning and zoning board members to craft an ordinance. With three pipeline projects planned for Iowa, Robinson told KMA it's a concern for communities big or small.”
KEYC: Summit Carbon Solutions hosts event regarding proposed CO2 pipeline
Aaron Stuve, 8/30/22
“Summit Carbon Solutions hosted a gathering at the Highwater Ethanol Plant in Lamberton on Tuesday to discuss the future of its carbon capture, transportation and storage project,” KEYC reports. “...Since the beginning of the ethanol industry, we’ve cut the carbon intensity score of ethanol production roughly in half, and this project will cut that in half again. So it will be somewhere in the 20 to 25 gram, versus the electric grid overall at 70 or higher. So it positions ethanol in renewable fuels as a very competitive option to EVs and other forms of low CI transportation,” explained Jim Pirolli, chief commercial officer at Summit Carbon Solutions. Summit Carbon Solutions says that they have been working with landowners that would be affected by the pipeline’s construction. “Certainly, people have questions about the project, and they’re valid, we’re glad to answer them,” said Mike Blank, chief executive officer at Summit Carbon Solutions. “We handle those in a very transparent fashion. We want to be very upfront about what we’re trying to accomplish, and each farmer, traditionally each track, traditionally tends to be a little bit different.”
WQAD: ADM-backed proposed carbon pipeline to pass through several QCA counties, including Clinton Co.
Jenna Webster, 8/30/22
“A proposed pipeline that would transport liquid carbon dioxide from ethanol plants in Cedar Rapids and Clinton would span about 280-miles across five Quad City area counties, according to a preliminary map of the project,” WQAD reports. "...It's gonna be a decarbonization tool for this area of the Midwest to sustain existing businesses and attract new businesses for the energy transition that we're heading in to," said Nicholas Noppinger, Senior VP of Cooperate Development at Wolf Carbon Solutions… “Some residents brought up concerns about the pipeline leaking. The liquid carbon dioxide the pipes carry is classified as a hazardous material. "Really, CO2 pipelines have a very safe history," Noppinger said. "There are tens of thousands of miles of pipelines of more hazardous liquids and gases underneath the ground and there are protocols in place at the federal and state level that make sure that nothing bad happens." The carbon capture pipelines proposed across Iowa have received opposition because Iowans are concerned companies will use eminent domain to seize land from unwilling landowners… "We're trying to do this entire project through volunteer easement," he said. "Our team, through their collective career, has never done eminent domain and we intend to stick with that with this project."
KCRG: First public meetings held for carbon capture pipeline
Emily Schrad, 8/29/22
“The first of six public meetings for the carbon capture pipeline that’s set to go through five Iowa Counties took place Monday,” KCRG reports. “Wolf Carbon Solutions signed a letter of intent with Archer Daniels Midland Co. or A-D-M back in January to build the pipeline. Many people from across Corridor-area communities in Johnson came out to this first meeting happening in North Liberty this afternoon… ”This is just an opportunity for a larger group to come together and hear the narrative and ask questions where everyone hears the same thing at the same time,” said Nicholas Noppinger, Senior VP of Cooperate Development at Wolf Carbon Solutions. Noppinger said its project is different from other Co2 pipelines. He says the companies are looking to decarbonize industries and facilities so they can be more sustainable in the future. But not everyone who came to the meeting was in favor of the pipeline. ”It’s being promoted as an environmental solution to carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, when in fact it captures a very very small percentage of the Co2 produced in this country. In my opinion, CCS is nothing more than an opportunity to perpetuate the fossil fuel industry,” said Kenn Bowen, Johnson County Resident.”
Bnamericas: TC Energy's Mexican Gulf pipeline faces environmental opposition
8/31/22
“TC Energy's US$4.5bn Southeast Gateway pipeline project in Mexico is facing its first opposition from a series of environmental groups,” Bnamericas reports. “In a letter signed by 18 civil society organizations, including Greenpeace México, and coordinated by the Mexican center for environmental law (Cemda), the group said the project posed a "grave risk" of environmental damage, given that the pipeline route passes through the gulf's 600km southwestern coral reef corridor. The organizations recommended that the project's two environmental impact statements submitted to the energy, security and environment agency ASEA (part of environment ministry Semarnat) be rejected so that the company can submit a single statement encompassing the two sections of the project. According to Cemda, the Mexican supreme court has ruled that large infrastructure projects are forbidden from being intentionally broken up into smaller stages in order to make the permitting process easier, as that would "prevent a comprehensive analysis of the risks ... and the cumulative environmental impact" of the whole project.”
Energetic City: TC Energy holds open house to introduce pipeline project
Grace Giesbrecht, 8/30/22
“Expecting to use local accommodations and some of the local workforce, TC Energy held an open house in Fort St. John on Tuesday evening to introduce the North Corridor Expansion project,” Energetic City reports. “...Though this section of pipeline does not cross the Alberta border and doesn’t effect landowners in the B.C. Peace region directly, a spokesperson for TC Energy told EnergeticCity.ca that the project would likely use some of the local workforce and house workers in accommodations within the city. The open house was to “introduce” the project and company to the community, she told EC… “The project, for which consultation began in 2018, is currently under construction. It’s completion is expected in the second quarter of 2023.”
WASHINGTON UPDATES
E&E News: Court faults NEPA review for 2 Trump offshore lease sales
Niina H. Farah, 8/30/22
“A federal appeals court today partly reversed a judge’s order upholding a Trump-era environmental analysis of two offshore oil and gas lease sales spanning more than 150 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico,” E&E News reports. “The ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on the National Environmental Policy Act review for Lease Sales 250 and 251 comes after environmental groups previously failed to convince a lower bench that the Interior Department’s analysis was inadequate. On appeal, the D.C. Circuit found one shortcoming with Interior’s environmental impact statement for the sales but otherwise found the agency had complied with federal law. The ruling partly reverses a 2020 decision by Senior Judge Reggie Walton the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and sends the case back for further consideration by Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. “But we decline to vacate the supplemental [environmental impact statement], the records of decision announcing Lease Sales 250 and 251, or the leases issued through those sales,” said Katsas, a Trump appointee. Interior declined to comment on the ruling, but Earthjustice senior attorney Chris Eaton called the decision a win for communities on the Gulf Coast. “The court’s decision reaffirms that BOEM is failing to consider the full effects of these sales and should send a strong message to the administration and the oil and gas industry that the time to transition to clean energy and away from offshore drilling is now,” Eaton told E&E… “The Gulf Restoration Network and other environmental groups had argued that BOEM, which is an agency within Interior, had not truly considered an alternative where no leasing took place because the agency had assumed that the area in the Gulf would be leased at some point, regardless of whether these specific sales took place.”
STATE UPDATES
WyoFile: ExxonMobil to store CO2 on BLM lands in Wyoming
Dustin Bleizeffer, 8/30/22
“ExxonMobil has received a federal permit to inject CO2 for permanent underground storage below public Bureau of Land Management property in southwest Wyoming,” WyoFile reports. “The company will inject up to 60 million cubic feet of CO2 per day from its Shute Creek natural gas processing facility near La Barge, according to the BLM. The greenhouse gas will be stored in a briny portion of the Madison Aquifer some 18,000 feet below the surface in an area that straddles the border between Lincoln and Sweetwater counties. The permit is a first-of-its-kind for the BLM. The agency issued new guidance in June authorizing underground CO2 storage on BLM-managed lands as part of the Biden administration’s initiatives to curb greenhouse gas emissions… “But the Shute Creek CO2 program is not without its critics. About half the volume of CO2 that’s been captured or separated from the raw natural gas stream at the facility — approximately 120 million tons — has been vented into the atmosphere since it began operations in 1986, according to a March 2022 report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Finance Analysis. About 114 million tons of captured CO2 have been sold for enhanced oil recovery — the process of injecting CO2 into marginal oil fields to produce more oil… “If fully implemented, the plan to sequester an additional 60 million cubic feet of CO2 per day — or 1.2 million tons annually — would cut Shute Creek’s CO2 venting by about 35%... “The Shute Creek CO2 program remains anything but a climate-friendly endeavor, however, according to IEEFA. That’s because rather than capturing CO2 from industrial processes such as the combustion of fossil fuels, it’s simply moving naturally occurring CO2 from one geologic formation to another while about half is used to produce more oil resulting in human-made CO2 emissions. “The [Shute Creek] CCUS model should mainly be seen as a subsidy harvesting scheme to prolong the life of the oil and gas industry, not an emission reduction investment,” IEEFA analysts wrote. However, some conservationists consider any additional volumes of CO2 diverted for geologic storage rather than for enhanced oil recovery or venting into the atmosphere as a positive. “Moving from [enhanced oil recovery] to permanent geological storage on BLM lands is a pretty big shift,” Wyoming Outdoor Council Conservation Advocate John Burrows told WyoFile.”.
Press release: Governor Hochul Announces Maine and Rhode Island Join Multi-State Agreement to Propose a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub
8/25/22
“Governor Kathy Hochul today announced Maine and Rhode Island have signed on to a New York-led multi-state agreement, joining with Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey to develop a proposal to become one of at least four regional clean hydrogen hubs designated through the federal Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The coalition of six states and now more than 60 clean hydrogen ecosystem partners are laying the groundwork for a proposal for the United States Department of Energy funding opportunity anticipated to be announced in September or October with up to $8 billion in total funding available. Today's announcement advances each State's leadership in clean hydrogen infrastructure deployment and supports New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050… “Since the initial announcement Link opens in new window - close new window to return to this page. in March, New York has continued to add strategic partners that now include 14 private sector industry leaders, 12 utilities, 20 hydrogen technology original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), 10 universities, seven non-profits, five other states, two transportation companies and three state agencies.”
KQED: Watered-Down State Bill to Punish Refinery Pollution Gets Scrapped After Oil Industry Pushback
Ted Goldberg, 8/24/22
“A proposal that would have punished oil refineries that illegally pollute the air with toxic chemicals is dead, after opposition from the industry led to such a weakening of the bill that its own author pulled her support,” KQED reports. “The state Senate was poised to vote later this month on a proposal to increase the maximum penalties for California oil refineries that violate air quality laws. If passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor, it would have marked the first major change to the penalty structure specific to the oil refining industry in the state in more than two decades. But two weeks ago, legislators weakened the bill so much that California’s leading oil industry group dropped its months-long opposition to it. Now, the East Bay Assemblymember behind the push, whose district includes one of California’s largest refineries, has decided to kill the bill and push for another piece of legislation that has similar goals but does not go as far as her original proposal. The legislation’s changes did not take place during multiple public hearings where lawmakers debated AB 1897 and then overwhelmingly backed the bill four separate times. Instead, in a hearing behind closed doors earlier this month, state senators apparently bowed to oil industry demands, reducing some of the bill’s proposed fine increases and making the standard for the hikes more stringent.”
EXTRACTION
CarbonCredits.com: Planned Carbon Capture Project Pipeline Almost 1 Billion Tonnes
Jennifer L, 8/30/22
“The Global Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage (CCUS) project development pipeline is now almost at 1 billion tonnes a year, with over 50 new projects revealed in just Q2 (according to Wood Mackenzie),” CarbonCredits.com reports. “...Woodmac also said that the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will boost CCUS uptake. But more is necessary to meet net zero goals by 2050 – a 7x boost. The author of the report, Lucy King commented: “…much more progress is required to meet 2050 greenhouse gas targets. Currently, the CCUS capacity pipeline is close to aligning with Wood Mackenzie’s 1.5-degree pathway to 2030, but it will need to grow seven-fold by 2050 to reach the capacity required for net-zero.” “...Currently, North America accounts for over ⅔ (67%) of global CCUS capacity. Much of its carbon capture activities are found in Alberta, the U.S. Gulf Coast, and Midwest… “The biggest challenge, however, is the lack of regulatory and policy implementation for CCUS projects as Woodmac said. The author noted that the rate of CCUS pipeline demand and growth is outpacing the government’s ability to regulate… “According to the report, the IRA will: “further ramp up the U.S.’ planned CCUS capacity pipeline, which is currently at almost 250 mtpa… It will incentivize smaller-scale capture projects, attract more industries, and promote investment into technologies including direct air capture… “The IRA marks the largest investment in clean energy in U.S. history. And the Department of Energy believes that it will help position the country to lead the global clean energy market, particularly in the CCUS pipeline.”
CLIMATE FINANCE
Guardian: US fossil fuel firm sues insurer for refusing to cover climate lawsuit
Isabella Kaminski, 8/30/22
“A fossil fuel firm is suing its insurer for refusing to cover a climate lawsuit in a case that could affect the wider industry’s ability to defend itself from litigation,” the Guardian reports. “Aloha Petroleum, a subsidiary of the US-based Sunoco, filed a claim against AIG’s National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh earlier this month, arguing it had failed to protect Aloha from the mounting costs of defending climate-related claims by local governments in Hawaii. According to documents filed in the latest lawsuit, Aloha has already incurred more than $880,000 (£750,000) in defence costs, and expects these to grow significantly as litigation progresses. Its insurance company will not pay out. The lawsuit follows another, filed by the insurance company Everest in June, which is asking Massachusetts superior court to make a similar decision about whether coverage can be denied to Gulf Oil. These are some of the first disputes over insurance coverage for climate crisis litigation to be heard in the courts. Both insurance companies say climate litigation is covered by exclusions for “pollution” in their clients’ general liability policies. If they succeed, the fossil fuel firms could be on the hook for millions of dollars in legal fees, in addition to any future damages awarded in court.” “...It is not only a risk for the fossil fuel industry. Mary Sweeters, a senior strategist for the Insure Our Future campaign, told the Guardian insurers underwriting the polluters that were subject to climate litigation may face significant losses.”
OPINION
Roanoke Times: Chisholm: The Mountain Valley Pipeline is dead. Time for Senator Warner to realize it.
Russell Chisholm is a longtime environmental justice organizer and co-chair of the Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights Coalition, which represents individuals and groups from Virginia and West Virginia, 8/30/22
“Last week, Sen. Mark Warner was touring flood damage in Buchanan County. Flooding in Southwest Virginia is exacerbated by climate change. Warner made a promise to his constituents that he will improve flood resiliency in our communities,” Russell Chisholm writes for the Roanoke Times. “In the same breath, this week, Warner commented on a pro-fossil fuel, anti-climate action deal that West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin has cooked up, saying that regulatory processes are taking too long for both fossil fuel pipelines and renewable energy projects. This statement is not only false, but it contradicts the ethos of the promise he made on flood resilience. Fossil fuel pipelines, like the Mountain Valley Pipeline which Manchin is trying to fast track with his pipeline bill, fuel climate change. The Mountain Valley Pipeline itself is a climate nightmare… “Some people, like Warner, have been speculating that this bill, which quickens permitting processes, is needed for renewable energy projects, as well as fossil fuel projects. This is false. Renewable energy projects generally do not experience delays from permitting processes… “This bill will result in deregulation rather than the permitting reform that Manchin and the Democrats have stated. It has been rubber stamped by the American Petroleum Institute and is geared toward fast tracking fossil fuel projects. It specifically names the Mountain Valley Pipeline project, which Manchin is a big fan of. But let’s be clear: there has been no regulatory slow down on this project. The Mountain Valley Pipeline has been given ample chances to prove that it is a necessary project. The years of delay and budget increases are not due to permitting delays, but rather the complete unnecessary, destructive boondoggle of a project that the MVP is… “If Warner is actually committed to protecting the communities he serves, he must oppose Manchin’s pipeline bill and the Mountain Valley Pipeline project.”
Register Herald: Pipeline puts the Greenbrier and our communities at risk
Denise Elliott, Lewisburg, Aug 26, 2022
“The Mountain Valley Pipeline is in the news lately thanks to Sen. Joe Manchin. Our senator is attempting to use the urgency of climate change and inflation reduction to push through the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) project. However, the MVP is not good for our communities or our waters,” Denise Elliott writes for the Register Herald. “The pipeline route threatens to cross the Greenbrier River in Pence Springs. Thousands of people flock to this area every summer to float the river. We cannot risk damaging the waters of the Greenbrier for an unnecessary pipeline project. MVP construction has already resulted in 350 water quality violations and garnered over $2.5 million in fines in the two Virginias with 500 other waterbodies remaining to be crossed… “We are on the frontlines of environmental injustice with economies tied to extractive industries... “We say no more. It’s time for a fossil-free, just, and green energy future for West Virginia that starts with saying no to Sen. Manchin’s “deal” and canceling MVP. The MVP threatens the waters of the Greenbrier River, and that’s a deal-breaker.”
Brainerd Dispatch: Reader Opinion: Enbridge’s investment
Mike Paulus, Cass County Economic Development Corporation executive director, 8/31/22
“In 2020 and through 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic raged and the negative effects of the economic shutdown lingered, Enbridge stepped up to the plate and invested billions of dollars into the northern half of Minnesota,” Mike Paulus writes for the Brainerd Dispatch. “With the Line 3 replacement, the Enbridge economic boost came at a time when businesses in our area were facing the very real potential outcome of cutting jobs or closing altogether… “But with the release of an economic impact report by APEX, we have a clearer measure of the true economic outcome. According to the report, Enbridge made a $4 billion investment over the seven-year project. Whereas this data is not specific to Cass County but rather all of northern Minnesota, I believe it effectively highlights the economic stimulus to our local economies during a period of otherwise bleak prospects.”