Forum News Service: Walz administration to petition for reconsideration, let Line 3 pipeline appeal advance

EXCERPT: “The Minnesota Department of Commerce will continue to appeal Enbridge Energy’s proposed Line 3 oil pipeline, Gov. Tim Walz announced Tuesday morning, Feb. 12. Walz said his administration, through the Department of Commerce, will petition the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to reconsider the certificate of need it granted to the project, allowing an appeal filed in the final days of Gov. Mark Dayton’s administration to continue. The decision came on the deadline for the administration to continue the appeal, delaying the pipeline construction. The Minnesota Court of Appeals last week said the appeals filed by Dayton’s administration were premature, and needed to be refiled for the appeals to proceed. Walz’s announcement spurred excitement among environmental and tribal advocates who’d lobbied against the proposal. Meanwhile, labor and economic development advocates and Republican lawmakers said the move marks a failure in the governor’s first test of implementing his ‘One Minnesota’ vision.” FULLSTORY: http://bit.ly/2S1Cxh1