The debate over White Bear Township has reached the State Capitol, creating policy questions for project to build new $440 million plant in falls through residents.
Justin Eichorn relayed that the company's decision to pull out was a combination of an appeals court ruling and Minnesota's "regulatory and political climate." On Thursday Huber Engineered Woods (HEW) announced in a news release that the company would not move forward with its plan to build a $440 million manufacturing facility in Cohasset, Minn.
The project, which received a combined $40 million in state and local funding, would purportedly have required up to 400 construction workers.
Likely hundreds of more employees would have worked at the plant itself.
In a statement, HEW president Brian Carlson blamed “delays that jeopardize our ability to meet product demands” and stated that the company would build the facility in a different state.
“We will be seeking a new location where we can produce critical home building products that are desired by American home builders and homeowners in a timely manner and consistent with Huber’s environmental and social commitments,” he said.
This week the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled that the project’s environmental impact would need to undergo further study.
The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe argued that the new plant, slated to be built near their reservation, would harm the area’s wetlands and threaten their Treaty rights.
As the measure advances, residents of White Bear Township can follow amendments and contact Heather Gustafson regarding the final language.
Article Source: Alpha News: “Project to build new $440 million plant in Minnesota falls through”
