Posted at: 11/25/2009 5:19 PM | KSAX.com
By: Megan Matthews
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Bemidji Pipeline Splits Public Opinion

BEMIDJI, MINN. - The $3.4 billion pipeline project has been an economic boom for the area, but many Bemidji residents have had to make sacrifices for the pipes being buried just yards away from their homes.

"I realize it's good for the local economy, but we're not hearing the other side of the story, and we're just one family," Resident Lois Geiger said.

Geiger has lived in Bemidji for 17 years, and her house is one of many right alongside the new pipeline.

"Along comes a huge project like this, and wow they're there.  My house shakes when they're working.  It's shaking right now," Geiger said as construction workers welded pipe together just yards from her house.

Workers are installing the 36 inch pipe about 100 yards away from Geiger's house.  The project is so close, Geiger was paid to cut down four trees.  Many other residents had to do the same.

"There are people who had a lot more trees cut down than I did," Geiger said.

The project started in August 2009, and about 500 people from all over the country are staying in the area.

"We felt it was an economic boom for the area," Resident Kathy Jones said.

Area hotels and bars are making money of the workers, which has helped the economic situation of the town.

"I know here in Bemidji...the bars are happy campers, trust me," Geiger said.

Other residents, who aren't directly affected by the pipeline, enjoy watching the progress.

"We have found it interesting to watch, but...like I say we're not affected by it," Jones said.

Geiger and many others are affected by construction.  In fact, people's homes have been bought out to make room for the pipeline.  Geiger says she could lose her house if the project expands further in the future.

"I said to him, 'How far this way can you come towards our home?'  And he said, 'As far as we want,'" Geiger recalled from a conversation with an Enbridge representative.

The project is set to finish in December 2009, but Geiger says that's not soon enough.

"Tomorrow wouldn't be soon enough for me," she said.  "I feel like we've been invaded."

The thousand mile pipeline will stretch 1,000 miles from Alberta, Canada to Superior, Wis. when it's finished.

Written for the web by Megan Matthews

megan@ksax.com