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Minnesota Senate Republicans are expected to grill state Commerce Commissioner Steve Kelley this week on the decision by the administration of DFL Gov. Tim Walz to further challenge the Line 3 oil pipeline project.

 state utility regulators’ decision earlier this year to approve Enbridge Energy’s proposal to replace a deteriorating pipeline that crosses northern Minnesota with a new, larger pipe along a different route.  

Kelley is scheduled to appear before two Senate committees Friday for a confirmation hearing.

Walz administration to appeal Line 3

Republican-controlled Senate fires Walz commissioner

Members of two other Senate committees will meet Aug. 31 to review the job performance of Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner Laura Bishop.

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, said Wednesday he was surprised and disappointed by Kelley’s latest appeal of the project. He said Senate Republicans already had Kelley under scrutiny.

“There were two commissioners that I went to the governor to in February and said they’re not doing their jobs,” Gazelka said. “One was Commissioner Leppink and the other was Commissioner Kelley.”

 in a special session to oust Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Nancy Leppink.

Gazelka would not say if a similar vote is coming next month for Kelley when the Legislature is expected to meet again in another special session to decide whether to extend the governor’s emergency authority to fight COVID-19. But Gazelka stressed that the Line 3 situation looms large.

“I want to look at every situation objectively,” he said. “But this was a very big deal, a bipartisan big deal that we actually thought was going to be done that is now going the opposite direction. The jobs aren’t there, the promises weren’t kept and so now we’re going to reevaluate.”

State utility regulators reaffirm support for Line 3

Rivers of Oil, an MPR News podcast 

Tim Pugmire

Author

The top Republican in the Minnesota Senate says another Walz commissioner is under scrutiny after this week's decision to further challenge the Line 3 oil pipeline project.

A man in a suit and tie speaks at a podium.

Line 3 dispute could cost Walz another commissioner

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