State legislators, Line 3 foes seek seat on body that approved pipeline

Line 3 deliberations at the Minnesota PUC
An open seat on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is drawing interest from several notable applicants, including current and former state legislators and two leading critics of Line 3.
Evan Frost | MPR News

An open seat on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is drawing interest from several notable applicants, including current and former state legislators and two leading critics of Enbridge Energy's planned Line 3 crude oil pipeline replacement, a project approved by the PUC earlier this year.

Commissioners hold six-year terms and are appointed by the governor. Chair Nancy Lange's term ends Jan. 7, 2019.

Among the 14 applicants for the seat is Winona LaDuke, executive director of Honor the Earth, a tribally rooted environmental group, and Leili Fatehi, who has represented the Sierra Club against the Line 3 proposal.

Other applicants include state Sen. David Tomassoni, of Chisholm; state Rep. Raymond Dehn, of Minneapolis; and former state Rep. Carly Melin, of Hibbing.

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