Members of the Northern Wisconsin Building Trades held a rally in support of the Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC) project Tuesday evening in Superior.

Previously in December, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities had issued a second finding of no significant impact  for the proposed natural gas plant project, but proponents of the center say its still faces opposition from superior city officials, something they feel is unwarranted.

“NTEC has gone through an extensive regulatory review process which has resulted in 14 different regulatory and environmental approvals, along with numerous other challenges from environmental groups,” explained Northern Wisconsin Building Trades President Kul Bukovich. “Every single challenge that NTEC has faced, the decision has always been the same — NTEC is needed and safe”

Superior Mayor Jim Paine has come out against the project and released the following statement:

“Minnesota Power’s attempt to build a toxic gas plant on the banks of the Nemadji River, within a neighborhood and less than a mile from Lake Superior puts our air, water, health, and quality of life at risk. It will also raise our utility rates, again, and threaten the thriving economy we’ve worked so hard to build. Superior has come too far to take such a large step backwards.”

The Superior Plan Commission will host the first public discussion on MN Power’s attempt to build the plant Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.