Growing pains on the Iron Range

Projects in the pipeline for the Iron Range

by Bob Kelleher, Minnesota Public Radio

Here's a list of new industries targeted for the Iron Range, along with their potential employment impact.

POLYMET MINING, HOYT LAKES

Project: Copper/nickel open pit mining, with smaller amounts of platinum group metals. Located on former LTV mining property.

Cost: $235 to $250 million.

Timeline: Envrionmental Impact Statement complete June 2007. Construction soon after. Production early 2009.

Construction jobs: Unknown.

Permanent jobs: 450, for 20 years or more.

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MESABI NUGGET, AURORA

Project: Produce nuggets with high iron content for electric arc furnaces. Located on former LTV mining property.

Cost:$172.2 million.

Timeline:Construction begins late this summer, when financing is in place. Production early 2008.

Construction jobs: 400.

Permanent jobs: 50.

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MINNESOTA STEEL INDUSTRIES, NASHWAUK

Project: Taconite mine; taconite processing plant; electric arc furnace; and steel plant. Located on former Butler Mining property.

Cost: $1.6 billion.

Timeline: EIS decision end of 2006; phase 1 construction 2007-2008.

Construction jobs: 2,000.

Permanent jobs: 700 at completion of phase 2 in 2011, and 2,100 spinoff jobs in related industries.

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EXCELSIOR ENERGY, TACONITE

Project: Coal gasification electric power generation plant.

Timeline: Public Utilities Commission makes decision on cost-effectiveness of project in August 2006.

Construction jobs: 1,000 on-site for 42 months; 3,000 total construction jobs.

Permanent jobs: 100 to 150 jobs with first unit; eventually three units planned.

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BIRCH LAKE PROJECT, BABBITT

Project: Underground copper, zinc and precious metals mine.

Timeline: EIS decision end of 2008; construction would follow. Production in 2010.

Construction jobs: Unknown.

Permanent jobs: 250.

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THUNDERHAWK PROJECT, UPM-BLANDIN PAPER, GRAND RAPIDS

Project: New paper machine, which will nearly double production capacity.

Cost: $654 million.

Timeline: Draft EIS complete; Decision to proceed still pending. Construction in late 2006. Production by 2009.

Construction jobs: 506.

Permanent jobs: 23.

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NOVA NEUTRINO DETECTOR, ASH RIVER TRAIL, ORR-BUYCK REGION

Project: A second high-energy neutrino detector (in addition to the underground detector in Soudan).

Value: $197 million to $248 million

Timeline: Construction possible this fall.

Construction jobs: Unknown.

Permanent jobs: Unknown.

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LAURENTIAN ENERGY AUTHORITY BIOMASS PROJECT, HIBBING AND VIRGINIA

Project: Biomass energy project to Convert coal-fired power plants in Hibbing and Virginia to wood-fired; establish continuing source of jobs providing wood from slash, forest and brush thinning; plantations.

Cost: $80 million.

Permanent Jobs: Saves 71 jobs; creates 65-100 new jobs.

Timeline: Construction approved and underway. Will be online in January 2007.