Projects in the pipeline for the Iron Range
POLYMET MINING, HOYT LAKES
Project: Copper/nickel open pit mining, with smaller amounts of platinum group metals. Located on former LTV mining property.
Cost: $235 to $250 million.
Timeline: Envrionmental Impact Statement complete June 2007. Construction soon after. Production early 2009.
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Construction jobs: Unknown.
Permanent jobs: 450, for 20 years or more.
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MESABI NUGGET, AURORA
Project: Produce nuggets with high iron content for electric arc furnaces. Located on former LTV mining property.
Cost:$172.2 million.
Timeline:Construction begins late this summer, when financing is in place. Production early 2008.
Construction jobs: 400.
Permanent jobs: 50.
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MINNESOTA STEEL INDUSTRIES, NASHWAUK
Project: Taconite mine; taconite processing plant; electric arc furnace; and steel plant. Located on former Butler Mining property.
Cost: $1.6 billion.
Timeline: EIS decision end of 2006; phase 1 construction 2007-2008.
Construction jobs: 2,000.
Permanent jobs: 700 at completion of phase 2 in 2011, and 2,100 spinoff jobs in related industries.
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EXCELSIOR ENERGY, TACONITE
Project: Coal gasification electric power generation plant.
Timeline: Public Utilities Commission makes decision on cost-effectiveness of project in August 2006.
Construction jobs: 1,000 on-site for 42 months; 3,000 total construction jobs.
Permanent jobs: 100 to 150 jobs with first unit; eventually three units planned.
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BIRCH LAKE PROJECT, BABBITT
Project: Underground copper, zinc and precious metals mine.
Timeline: EIS decision end of 2008; construction would follow. Production in 2010.
Construction jobs: Unknown.
Permanent jobs: 250.
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THUNDERHAWK PROJECT, UPM-BLANDIN PAPER, GRAND RAPIDS
Project: New paper machine, which will nearly double production capacity.
Cost: $654 million.
Timeline: Draft EIS complete; Decision to proceed still pending. Construction in late 2006. Production by 2009.
Construction jobs: 506.
Permanent jobs: 23.
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NOVA NEUTRINO DETECTOR, ASH RIVER TRAIL, ORR-BUYCK REGION
Project: A second high-energy neutrino detector (in addition to the underground detector in Soudan).
Value: $197 million to $248 million
Timeline: Construction possible this fall.
Construction jobs: Unknown.
Permanent jobs: Unknown.
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LAURENTIAN ENERGY AUTHORITY BIOMASS PROJECT, HIBBING AND VIRGINIA
Project: Biomass energy project to Convert coal-fired power plants in Hibbing and Virginia to wood-fired; establish continuing source of jobs providing wood from slash, forest and brush thinning; plantations.
Cost: $80 million.
Permanent Jobs: Saves 71 jobs; creates 65-100 new jobs.
Timeline: Construction approved and underway. Will be online in January 2007.