Last week, the Northern Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades Council signed a Letter of Intent for a Project Labor Agreement with Minnesota Power to ensure the construction of the Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC) is done with skilled union labor.

“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration, ensuring that our highly-trained workers contribute to a cutting-edge facility while upholding the highest safety and workplace standards,” said Emily Pritzkow, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Building Trades Council, “Through a Project Labor Agreement, we are setting a gold standard for construction excellence, ensuring that Northern Wisconsin reaps the benefits of quality jobs and sustainable energy production.”

The Letter of Intent was signed at the Wisconsin AFL-CIO Building Trades Council Conference in Superior. At peak construction, the $750 million flexible, low-emitting natural gas facility will generate 350 family-supporting jobs in the area, representing the largest private investment in Douglas County history. The project will also sustain approximately 20-25 permanent jobs, 150 indirect jobs, and an estimated $2 million annually for state and local governments. A critical resource in Wisconsin’s overall energy transition, this facility will help support the expansion of renewable energy and reduce dependency on fossil fuel and other legacy facilities.