Sulfide mining advocates say they'll deliver jobs, but how many?
The late Gov. Rudy Perpich, the favorite son of the Iron Range, coined the phrase, “jobs, jobs, jobs” in response to the downturn in the mining economy in the 1980s. It’s been the dominant theme of politics in northeastern Minnesota ever since.
And it’s driving debate about two controversial copper-nickel mines proposed in the Duluth Complex, home to large undeveloped deposits of copper, nickel, cobalt and other critical minerals.
These metals are key components in green technologies, including solar, wind and electric vehicles.
After years of a shrinking iron ore industry, mining advocates say the projects would bring back hundreds of jobs to the region and thousands of spin-off jobs in health care, manufacturing and retail. Polymet, which remains immersed in a permitting battle over its planned mine at the old LTV taconite site, estimates the project once completed would produce 360 mining, engineering, mechanical and other professional jobs. Twin Metals Minnesota said it will create more than 750 long-term jobs during the period of operation.
Read more: https://minnesotareformer.com/2021/07/08/sulfide-mine-advocates-say-theyll-deliver-jobs-but-how-many/