Canada pleased by pipeline progress

TransCanada’s proposed changes draw praise

There’s momentum building in support of the new route for the Keystone XL Pipeline, as the editorial yesterday in Canada’s “Globe and Mail” highlights.

Approval was delayed when President Obama refused to be pressed into signing off on the project when Republicans tried to force his hand, noting that to do so before final decisions were made about the route would likely open up lawsuits that would possibly further delay the construction.

Meanwhile, TransCanada has quietly pressed ahead with plans to build “to the border” (without securing the politically volatile crossing permit) at the same time as they’ve been working with Nebraska to find a viable alternative route that protects the Sand Hills region of Ogallala aquifer. Click on the map to the right if you want a better view of the area in question.

President Obama’s Directive to Expedite Portion of Keystone XL Pipeline

For Immediate Release
March 22, 2012 

 Contact:   Jay Lederer (202) 778-2626  
jlederer@iuoe.org 

Statement by
International Union of Operating Engineers General President James T. Callahan
on

President Obama’s Directive to Expedite Portion of
Keystone XL Pipeline

President Obama’s announcement today that he will expedite approval for a portion of the Keystone XL pipeline is an important, albeit long overdue step towards upgrading our country’s pipeline infrastructure.  In addition, it will create the kind of high-paying, skilled jobs that are so vital to our economy.  The Operating Engineers are hopeful that today’s action by President Obama will quickly translate into real work

Local 49′s state-of-the-art Training Center is also very “Green.”

Operating Engineers respect the environment

Local 49 trains operating engineers who work as heavy-equipment operators, mechanics, pipeliners, and surveyors. We opened a 65,000-square-foot facility in 2006 complete with ten (10) state-of-the-art classrooms, eight (8) large shop bays, a welding shop, and two wash bays. Located conveniently between Duluth and the Twin Cities in Minnesota, the facility includes 30,000 square feet of enclosed space to serve as an indoor area for winter/all-weather training.

Since there was no access to natural gas for heating this far outside an urban area, Minnesota-based Kresch, O’Brien, Mueller & Associates (KOMA) helped the Local 49 design a vast, efficient geothermal system with over 122 wells in the grassy area adjacent to the main facility. The geo-thermal system provides in-floor heating throughout the mechanical areas and shop bays. A heat pump system supplies the Training Center with hot water. There is also a massive makeup air system.

KOMA also designed the building’s orientation to take advantage of east-west breezes that flow through the shop bays, and the materials used in the exterior siding help with heat gain during winter months.

Unanimous Senate Approves Klobuchar’s “St. Croix River Crossing Authorization Act”

Senate passes Amy Klobuchar’s Stillwater bridge bill unanimously.

Of course, it’s not a done deal, especially with the lingering opposition from Representatives McCollum & Ellison, but think about that word “unanimous.” When was the last time anything passed either house of Congress without a single dissenting vote?

Senator Klobuchar’s success winning not just bi-partisan support but a unanimous vote to move the “St. Croix River Crossing Authorization Act” forward signals two key facts:

Obama Administration’s Decision to Deny the Keystone XL Pipeline Permit

For Immediate Release
January 18, 2012 

 Contact:   Jay Lederer (202) 778-2626  jlederer@iuoe.org 

 

Statement by

International Union of Operating Engineers General President James T. Callahan

on

Obama Administration’s Decision to Deny

the Keystone XL Pipeline Permit

Today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of State to withhold approval of the Keystone XL pipeline is a blow to America’s construction workers.  As the sector hardest hit by the recession and one that still grapples with an unemployment rate of 16%, this project could have been a lifeline to thousands of unemployed Operating Engineers.

The IUOE is deeply disappointed in the Administration’s decision.  We will continue to work with our partners in labor and the industry to bring vital energy projects online and to create the kind of high-paying, skilled jobs that are so vital to our economy, our members and their families.

### 

The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) represents more than 400,000 members in 123 local unions across the U.S. and Canada, including operating engineers who work as heavy equipment operators, mechanics, surveyors in the construction industry; stationary engineers in building and industrial maintenance; nurses and other health care workers; and public employees.

Jobs Can’t Wait, Keystone XL edition.

The lies being spread about Keystone XL reveal how desperate opponents are to confuse the public

Minnesota Laborers continue to fight for the Keystone XL Pipeline and the 20,000 direct and 120,000 indirect jobs it will bring to our members and our region. The Department of State is set to formally reject the Keystone XL Pipeline project application today. This decision was the dominant topic in today’s earlier White House press briefing.

Time to fix the Stillwater Bridge

Star-Tribune:
Bridge opposition from metro-area Reps McCollum & Ellison is misguided

After 80 years of increasingly heavy use, the historic two-lane Stillwater Lift Bridge is a landmark in dangerous disrepair while growth along the MN/WI border is steadily creating more traffic.

The proposed 4-lane bridge replacement project has been thoroughly vetted over the course of three decades. This is the plan that citizens and other stakeholders chose to best meet the traffic needs of the 21st century while causing the least environmental harm – and you know if both Rep. Bachmann and Senator Klobuchar can agree on the value and importance that this is not some minor, back-burner issue.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who wrote the bill and co-sponsors it with U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-MN), discussed why she supports the $690 million bridge project with MPR Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer in November.