Rep. Jason Metsa (DFL-Virginia)
Governor Mark Dayton and state and local officials met today in Nashwauk with the C-E-O of Cliffs Natural Resources, which says it wants to complete construction of a taconite plant that Essar has been unable to finish. Virginia Representative Jason Metsa was in that meeting and says, “It’s not a done deal, but I do feel comfortable that they’re very serious. I think they’ve got a great reputation here in Minnesota of doing good business and right by their employees.” But Essar might contest the move: Officials there said Monday the state cancelling its mineral leases is invalid and they plan to move forward with the project in Nashwauk after securing new financing.