Committee meets, Lignite Luminary, submit comments and more….
Last week, the ND ED&T committee, chaired by Senator Jessica Bell (R-Beulah) gathered to discuss an array of energy-related topics in the Roughrider Room at the State Capitol. Among the key topics were industry updates on the reclamation of coal conversion facilities and PSC Commissioners Christmann and Fedorchak discussing their perspectives on operating the SPP and MISO power grids and delivering electricity reliably, dependably, and affordably.
Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread provided a briefing on the recently completed legislative study found in Senate Bill 2287 regarding the availability, cost, and risks associated with insurance coverage in the lignite industry. Commissioner Godfread indicated that the results of his department’s study highlighted that there is a possible opportunity for the state to create a captive insurance market that could focus on providing insurance for a larger pool of policyholders that would include the larger in-state fossil fuel industry. He indicated that an additional industry-funded study would be necessary to scope how insurance markets are affecting the petroleum industry in order to better understand what dynamics are in play and to fully scope out how a captive market could be designed.
The EPA’s Regional Haze Program consists of a series of regulations that require states to implement plans aimed at reducing potential visibility-impacting conditions with the goal of recreating visibility environments of more than 100 years ago. The program seeks to continually improve visibility beyond what is perceptible to the naked eye. Deadline to submit comments is June 1. Anyone in the United States is eligible to submit comments, you do not need to be a resident of North Dakota.
Check out the Lignite Council’s video to learn more about North Dakota’s air quality and the program’s potential impacts. https://youtu.be/uoL25TTRYfw
Representative Jeff Delzer (R-Underwood) has been named by the Lignite Energy Council as a Lignite Luminary for his leadership on the Lignite Council’s legislative priority bills that were critical to the coal industry during the 2021 legislative session. As a result of Rep. Delzer’s efforts, the Lignite Energy Council President and CEO Jason Bohrer called the 2021 legislative session the most important one in the history of the Lignite Energy Council.
[Guest – Rob Port] We have some of the cleanest air in the nation. Ours is one of only four states to have never violated a federal air quality standard protecting health or the environment. We’ve been building on that excellent record, too. “Since 2002, total emissions from coal-powered electricity generation plants in North Dakota were reduced by 102,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, or 72%, and 41,600 tons of nitrogen oxide, down 55%,” Patrick Springer reported last month.
Read the rest of the article and listen to the podcast from Plain Talk here.
Representative David Nehring appeared with Scott Hennen to discuss the importance of coal-based electricity in North Dakota. The Lignite Energy Council appreciates Rep. Nehring’s staunch support of the industry, state primacy, and strong economy.
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