Friends and neighbors,
One of the biggest challenges Minnesota is facing has been this state’s confusing, convoluted, and excessive permitting process. Over the last several years there have been attempts to improve our broken permitting system, but each failed to get across the finish line.
I’m glad to report that this year we finally passed a comprehensive permitting reform bill that will make life significantly easier for Minnesota job creators, their workers, and our economy. It was perhaps the signature victory from this year’s legislative session.
Recently, the Mesabi Tribune published an issue dedicated to the importance of mining. The issue featured a column I published about permitting reform, and I wanted to share that column with you today.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. It is a privilege to serve you!
Sincerely,
Senator Keri Heintzeman
Minnesota Senate, District 6
MINNESOTA NEEDS PERMITTING REFORM!
BY: SENATOR KERI HEINTZEMAN
I am proud to share some great news with the people of northern Minnesota: meaningful permitting reform is finally on its way! As I write this, the final Environment budget agreement will include permitting reform provisions that will help cut red tape so good projects are no longer held hostage by bureaucratic gridlock. A vote on the agreement will happen on June 9, so by the time you read this, it will likely already be law.
It is a tremendous victory for northern Minnesota. After years of delays, uncertainty, and missed opportunities, we have secured real changes to our state’s permitting process that will make a difference for mining and for our communities.
Mining has always been the lifeblood of northern Minnesota. Generations of families on the Iron Range have earned a good living extracting the minerals that fuel our state, our country, and the world. From iron ore that built America’s skyscrapers to the critical minerals needed for the energy and technologies of tomorrow, the Range has never stopped playing its part. But in recent years, too many promising projects have been delayed or left behind entirely because of an outdated and unpredictable permitting process. That’s why this reform matters so much.
When businesses look to invest in Minnesota and especially mining communities, one of the first things they consider is whether they can get the necessary permits in a reasonable and predictable timeframe. And who can blame them?
It’s not that companies want to skip environmental protections. Nobody wants to ruin the land they depend on. What they need is certainty: clear rules, fair timelines, and consistent expectations. Unfortunately, Minnesota’s permitting system often fails to provide that.
According to research from the Minnesota Chamber Foundation, Tier 2 air permits, which are critical for mining, took an average of 586 days to get approved. Some permits dragged on as long as 3,451 days. That is nearly ten years! For water permits, the delays are just as bad. That’s not acceptable. It is no wonder mining companies, which could be hiring our neighbors and investing in our communities, are taking their money elsewhere.
Think about that for a minute. Companies that want to create jobs and build our future are being forced to look somewhere else. It’s just not right.
The Range has felt a lot of that pain already. Huber Engineered Woods was ready to build a new plant in Cohasset. It would have meant hundreds of jobs and over a billion dollars in investment. But thanks to Minnesota’s slow, uncertain process, they pulled the plug and took their money to another state. Talon Metals, Epitome Energy, and other companies have made similar choices. Every time a project leaves, we lose not just jobs but a piece of our community’s future.
The Polymet/NewRange copper-nickel mine, recently prioritized at the federal level under the FAST-41 process, has faced delays since 2005. That is two decades now. I am encouraged to see the federal government recognize its importance by streamlining that process. Responsible mining can fuel job creation, support national security, and reduce dependence on foreign countries while revitalizing Iron Range communities. I am glad the Range finally has friends in Washington in President Trump and Congressman Stauber that understand this reality.
This isn’t just about the companies; it’s about the families they support. It’s about the economic strength of the region. It’s about the schools, hospitals, and roads funded by mining taxes. The Chamber report found that if Minnesota matched neighboring states’ permitting timelines, we could see up to $910 million more in economic activity every year and thousands of new full-time jobs. That is money that could stay right here, in northern Minnesota, strengthening our towns and providing opportunities for our workers.
We also need to reject the false choice that we have to choose between supporting mining or protecting the environment. The Chamber’s study makes it clear: States like Illinois, Wisconsin, and North Dakota issue permits in a fraction of the time Minnesota does while maintaining high environmental standards. Illinois averages just 110 days for the same kinds of permits that take Minnesota 656 days. Wisconsin’s process is more predictable too. If they can do it, why can’t we? We do not have to sacrifice our environment to get projects moving. We just need a system that works.
Permitting reform means putting fairness and transparency back into the process. It means giving companies a clear path forward without endless delays and shifting requirements. It means giving Minnesotans a fair shot at the economic opportunities these projects bring. And let’s be honest, it means giving families and young people a reason to stay, work, and build their lives right here in northern Minnesota.
The permitting reform included in the final Environment budget agreement is a significant step forward. These changes will make a real difference for mining and economic development in our region.
Minnesota has what the world needs. After years of work, we are taking an important step toward making sure we can produce it responsibly and efficiently. This is big victory for workers, for our communities, and for the entire state. I am proud to support these improvements because they will make the Iron Range strong for generations to come.
