Scott Pruitt, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator, did a big favor for states like ours that use coal to generate electricity. His recent decision to repeal the Clean Power Plan lifted a massive regulation from our state’s economy, sparing our industries and households the effects from a weakened power grid, higher power prices and the…
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…
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…
Jason Bohrer: Polling Shows the People Support Clean Coal
The benefits of coal-based electricity to North Dakota include low electricity costs for homes and businesses, more than 14,000 jobs in the state, and $100 million in annual tax revenues. The coal industry makes our lives better every day, so it’s no wonder the Lignite Energy Council’s newest poll shows voters strongly support coal as…
Mike Jones: North Dakota Leads in Clean Coal Technology
As the United States and countries throughout the world seek ways to reduce man-made CO2 emissions, the state of North Dakota will be a leader in finding a solution for low-rank coals such as lignite while continuing to supply affordable and reliable electricity. North Dakota has several unique characteristics: A state-industry R&D partnership with a…
More Of This Please, Doug Burgum
Gubernatorial candidate Doug Burgum has doubled down (tripled down?) on his Obamacare-themed assault on his opponent, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. The Burgum campaign has even created an entire website dedicated to their argument that Stenehjem, who joined North Dakota to a multi-state lawsuit to overturn Obamacare, actually supports Obamacare because he sided with a group of…
North Dakota Coal Production Bucks National Trends, Up 4.3 Percent Since 2012
Things look pretty bleak from coal based on some of the headlines we’ve been seeing recently. Coal production has been declining. The folks at North Dakota’s Lignite Energy Council tell me that in a few weeks the Energy Information Administration (the data arm of the U.S. Department of Energy) is expected to announce that natural gas…
Jason Bohrer: The EPA's Energy Drought
Want a preview of what’s to come with the EPA’s proposed emissions rules for carbon dioxide and their impacts on electricity? Look no further than the State of California and the current situation with another critical element of our standard of living – water. There’s no disputing the fact that California is experiencing one of…
Steve Van Dyke: Seven Things To Know About North Dakota's Energy Landscape
The oil boom has created a large need for more electricity in North Dakota and also in Montana and South Dakota – areas typically served by North Dakota’s coal-based power plants. A 2012 study conducted by Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson for the North Dakota Industrial Commission shows that North Dakota will need an additional 2000…
Live Video: Rep. Kevin Cramer Town Hall At 3:00pm Central
Today the Lignite Energy Council and Bakken Backers will be holding an online town hall with Rep. Kevin Cramer. They’ve been kind enough to invite me to participate as well. At 3:00pm this post will be updated with live video of Cramer’s event. Until then, you can use the form below to submit questions for…