The politicians always think they know best. Energy policy is no departure from this simple truth. The politicians use all manner of policy – from tariffs to regulatory red tape to subsidies and mandates – to dictate where we get our power. In Australia, much like here in America, public policy aimed at pushing that…
Stenehjem Joins North Dakota to Group of 13 States Threatening to Sue California Over Coal Divestment Initiative
UPDATE: ND Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread has signed on to a similar effort opposing California’s push. You can read his press release here, and the letter here. In California, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has begun what he’s calling the Climate Risk Carbon Initiative. Arguing that because of climate change investments in fossil fuel energy production are…
Jeremy Rham: North Dakota Needs Wind Energy
Sayanythingblog.com and AgWeek recently published Connie Krapp’s op-ed entitled “Before Permitting Another Wind Mill North Dakota’s PSC Must Publicize Costs for Taxpayers and Energy Consumers.” The op-ed specifically referred to Otter Tail Power Company’s involvement with EDF Renewable Energy’s Merricourt Wind Farm near Ellendale. Ms. Krapp’s op-ed was decidedly negative. However, our company’s upcoming proceedings…
All of a Sudden North Dakota and the EPA Are Getting Along
In years past, when I’d talk with colleagues and others from out of state, I’d joke that North Dakota’s official pastime is suing the federal government. Because our state does it a lot, and regulations implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency have always been a frequent target. But of late, under the Trump administration, there…
Slow Blogging Today
I won’t be keeping up my usual pace of blogging today as I’m on the road. The folks at the Lignite Energy Council were kind enough to invite me down to their annual meeting in Bismarck today to talk about media and communications. It’s a fun opportunity. While I use the blog and social media…
The Jobs Argument for Wind Power Is Baloney
In a recent editorial the Grand Forks Herald tries to gloss over the very real problems with wind power. Namely that it largely wouldn’t exist without taxpayers picking up pretty much all of the costs of production, and that it’s an intermittent power source which (barring some future technological invention or innovation) will always have…
Pro-Wind Lawmaker Accidentally Speaks the Truth About Wind Energy: It’s Not Needed or Stable
“I want to see us support and make coal more competitive,” said House Minority Leader Corey Mock, a Democrat from Grand Forks, said in a committee hearing in Bismarck last week. “But I certainly wouldn’t want to do it at the expense of other energy industries.” That’s an ironic statement given that the topic at…
Audio: Head of Coal Industry Group Says Trump Order Means New Coal Plants Could Be Built
I had Jason Bohrer on my radio show today. Jason is the head of the Lignite Energy Council which, as you might imagine, represents and promotes the state’s coal interests. I wanted to talk with him about President Donald Trump today signing an executive order rolling back a number of Obama administration regulations and restrictions…
Amendment Would Seek a Moratorium on Approving New Wind Power Projects in North Dakota
In its original form SB2314, introduced by Republican Senator Jessica Unruh of Beulah, would have addressed power companies seeking rate hikes here in North Dakota to pay for compliance with green power mandates in other states. It also would have moved North Dakota’s renewable energy mandate (which has long since been satisfied) from the law and…
Wind Power Is a Sacred Cow Ripe for Slaughter, but a Tax Is the Wrong Way to Do It
There is a lot of very bad public policy surrounding wind power. One example is the massive, market-distorting wind power production credit. An unfortunate amount of wind power’s market share is built on this subsidy. Another example is the preference the wind industry gets when selling their power to the grid. Currently politically popular power sources…
