Superior Mayor, Some Councilors Now Against Proposed Natural Gas Plant; Labor Not Happy
Mayor Jim Paine first supported the project in 2017
SUPERIOR, Wis. – If Superior Mayor Jim Paine has it his way, Minnesota Power and its partners will not be allowed to build a natural gas plant (Nemadji Trail Energy Center) near the Enbridge Energy Terminal and Cenovus Energy.
“All this project will do is raise our utility rates, pollute our city, and desecrate a cemetery. I don’t know who could still support this,” Paine told FOX 21.
It’s a big change of heart from Paine who first gave his full public support for the $700 million project back in 2017.
2019 resolution of support
“The economy does not draw lines at the state border, neither do energy companies,” Paine told FOX 21 in a 2017 interview. “We frequently buy energy from each other … This is the Northland working together for a brand new project.”
And in 2019, Paine joined the council in a unanimous resolution of approval for the project (see a copy to the right).
And with the permitting process seemingly near the finish line, a celebration was held this past August when the Northern Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades Council singed a labor agreement with Minnesota Power.
“It’s jobs in the area, it’s reliability of grid our in the area, as well as back up assistance for our renewable projects that are already in play and running like solar and wind,” said Todd Simmons, a vice president at Minnesota Power, at the August celebration.
But something else was in the wind — a strong change of heart and support from Mayor Paine.
“I should have never supported this in the first place. It doesn’t help our economy, it doesn’t help our environment, it doesn’t even help our energy grid. All this project will do is raise our utility rates, pollute our city, and desecrate a cemetery,” Paine said.
Location of the proposed plant within red box
The site of the proposed Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC) sits on the East End of town. It’s adjacent to the St. Francis and Nemadji cemeteries and along the Nemadji River where a mass indigenous grave site is located — property that was transferred to the Fond du Lac Band in 2022.
“100 years ago, the people that were buried here were dug up from Wisconsin Point to make room for another large industrial project. We only just returned this land to those people. And now they want to put another large industrial project on the site … It’s unconscionable,” Paine explained.
(*As a point of clarification, NTEC would not be on the mass grave site, but rather in its vicinity)
Paine is not alone. Councilors Jenny Van Sickle and Ruth Ludwig have also had a change of heart. And newer councilors Nicholas Ledin and Garner Moffat have joined the movement.
Jenny Van Sickle
During a public comment period over the summer, they all sent letters of opposition to the Rural Utilities Service, which is the final federal agency needed for the project’s approval. Click here to view Mayor Paine’s letter.
In Van Sickle’s letter to the agency, she noted she’s Indigenous. And in a statement to FOX 21, she stressed her representation as a counselor for the neighborhood in and around the site.
“We deserve as nice a neighborhood as anyone else- and residents are rightfully concerned about the smell, noise, traffic, pollution, and their property values. No one can say we haven’t supported our fair share of a working economy out here. But we aren’t anyone’s dumping grounds,” Van Sickle said.
Ruth Ludwig
Councilor Ludwig said in part:
“…Superior already takes on a great amount of environmental and human health and safety risk because of our industrial commerce…
The proposed NTEC project will only add to the risks, and in my opinion and the opinions of other Superior residents, the risks are not worth the potential estimated economic gains.”
Kyle Bukovich is the president of the Northern Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades. He said the mayor and opposing councilors are turning their backs on labor and don’t represent the majority of Superior.
Kyle Bukovich, president of the Northern Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades
“There are many individuals that support this project that have not been heard, because of how the permitting process, it’s at the federal stage right now with the Rural Utilities Service. And it hasn’t made its way to the local stage yet. And for the city councilors and the mayor to oppose it already, and not get full input from the community, that’s a concern,” Bukovich said.
Former Superior city Councilor Dan Olson is the longtime leader of the largest labor union in the Twin Ports, Laborers Local 1091.
“It’s a huge disappointment to the fact that we’re ready with a workforce, we’re ready with a project labor agreement that will ensure local hiring, were ready to bring $650,000 annually to the city of Superior and another $350,000 to Douglas County,” Olson said.
Dan Olson, leader of Laborers Local 1091
Meanwhile, Minnesota Power and its project partners, Dairyland and Basin Electric, said the natural gas plant is critical to providing customers with a reliable energy source, as coal plants close and renewables — like wind and solar — are not available.
In a statement, Minnesota Power said:
“As we advance the clean-energy transition, our commitment to providing 24/7 reliable service to our customers is unwavering. The Nemadji Trail Energy Center, a modern, state-of-the-art natural gas facility, is a critical part of ensuring a resilient electric grid by providing a reliable, on-demand energy source when renewables like wind and solar are not available. This project has significant energy, environmental and economic benefits by safeguarding resilient power for our customers, reducing overall carbon emissions, and creating hundreds of well-paying construction jobs and local tax benefits. This project has been extensively reviewed by energy experts, state and federal regulators and state courts and has received numerous regulatory approvals. As we move closer to construction, Minnesota Power and our partners Dairyland Power Cooperative and Basin Electric Cooperative look forward to partnering with the community, labor, and local leaders to bring this investment in a clean-energy future to completion.”
Click here for a FAQ on the project by Minnesota Power.
For Olson, he said there’s no reason for opposition from city leaders at the 11th hour and especially opposition he said has not been expressed in council meetings.
“This is a billion dollar project that will live long into the future, after a lot of us are gone. And to make sure that it is done properly, has been done, but to stop against it without reaching out to the community, other than a few letters to the state and a couple of letters to the council president. They haven’t done their due diligence,” according to Olson.
And while Mayor Paine said there’s not a chance NTEC will put one shovel in the ground…
Mayor Jim Paine
“I mean, look around. This is a sacred place. For the love of God, could we let these people rest in peace,” Paine said.
…Labor leaders say watch us do just that.
“We’ll get a project built, and we’ll do it with you or without you. That’s a strong statement, but that’s how we feel, and we’re prepared,” Olson said.
Paine and Councilor Van Sickle stress they are not turning their backs on labor and have talked extensively to their constituents about the project.
Meanwhile, multiple Chippewa tribes have sent a joint letter of opposition to the Rural Utilities Service.
The opposition has gotten the attention from lawmakers in Madison. Republican Rep. Angie Sapik is calling on Superior leaders to support NTEC.
In a statement, Sapik said in part:
Sapik’s full statement
“I strongly urge Mayor Jim Paine along with all city council members to read their 2019 statement in support of NTEC and reevaluate their recent pivot against the project… Let us set aside political differences, weigh the benefits of NTEC to the city of Superior and Northwestern Wisconsin, and focus on the positive impact it will have on our economy, job creation, and the well-being of our residents,” Sapik said.
The Rural Utilities Service is expected to make a decision on the project’s Supplemental Environmental Assessment by the end of the month.
As for the rest of the city councilors, Tyler Elm, Mike Herrick, Lindsey Graskey and Jack Sweeney told FOX 21 they are undecided and need more information. Councilors Brent Fennessey and Mark Johnson support the NTEC project.
Fennesey’s statement to FOX 21 reads:
Councilor Brent Fennessey
“I haven’t heard of any councilor flip-flopping on their support of the Nemadji Trail Energy Center project. Last I understood, was when the Superior City Council unanimously passed a resolution of support for NTEC, and the majority of those councilors who voted in favor of it then, are still in office today.
I voted in favor of NTEC in 2019 and proudly continue to support the project today. NTEC will be built by the highest quality, safest, and most skilled local union workforce. The $750 million build, with an economic impact of nearly a $1 billion over 20 years, is expected to add 260 family sustaining construction jobs over the four-year build, 25 permanent full-time jobs, and add $1M in annual tax revenue to the City of Superior and Douglas County.
The Nemadji Trail Energy Center is a crucial stepping-stone towards reducing carbon emissions. As the City of Superior continues taking steps to replace gas powered vehicles with electric vehicles, it only makes sense to support resource balancing projects like this.”
Councilor Mark Johnson
Johnson’s statement reads:
“I am in support of the Nemadji River Trail Energy Center (NTEC). I wasn’t on the council in 2019 when they unanimously supported the project. Therefore, I have done my own research by attending community meetings, reading the agency reports and applications. I’ve met with stakeholders including those in favor of the project and those that oppose it to make sure that I agreed with the council’s previous decision. I wasn’t aware, until recently, of a push to oppose the NTEC project by councilors or the mayor.
I am supporting the project to bring an economic boost to our community. The expansion to renewable resources is needed. NTEC will be a ‘stop gap’ measure that will be a bridge in time that allows for the rapid advancement of renewable technology allowing our world to become 100% reliable on those resources.”
