800 acres released, MN Senate Energy Committee hearing on CC Bill, LEC in the classroom, Holmberg retires, updating contacts
North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Randy Christmann reported that the ND PSC approved the final bond release of more than 800 acres. The land, previously mined by the Coteau Properties Company’s Freedom Mine, demonstrated that the reclaimed lands have met all applicable final bond release performance standards and the bond release will become effective April 11, 2022.
On Thursday, the MN Senate Energy Committee held a hearing on Senate File 3661 that provides legislative support for carbon capture technology for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from a variety of sources. The committee members heard supporting presentations from Kevin Connors from the Energy & Environment Research Center along with Summit Carbon Solutions and Harvey Thorleifson from the Minnesota Geological Survey. Opposition testimony was given by CURE (Clean Up the River Environment).
Written testimony urging the passage of the bill was provided by the Lignite Energy Council, Minnesota Rural Electric Association, Cooperative Network and the Center for the American Experiment. The language in the bill would be among the first state-level carbon capture policies established in Minnesota and committee members passed the bill on a 4-3 roll call vote.
The Lignite Energy Council’s Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Kay LaCoe, spent a day at Wachter Middle School teaching 8th graders about the importance of coal mining and reclamation by getting down in the dirt with cake pan mining. Six North Dakota Studies classes were challenged to mine and reclaim their mines to determine a profit or loss. The students form groups, complete a permit application, choose mining tools, separate topsoil and overburden, remove the coal and then reclaim their mines. Finally, the students complete an economic worksheet to determine profits or losses.
Senator Ray Holmberg of Grand Forks, ND, announced that he will retire from the Legislature upon the completion of his term on November 30, 2022. Lignite Energy Council CEO Jason Bohrer said, “Senator Holmberg was a consummate statesman that helped create the research and development corridor that has launched today’s next-generation energy technologies. His leadership will be greatly missed.” Sen. Holmberg was recognized in 2018 with the Lignite Council’s Lignite Public Service award and in 2021 as a Lignite Champion.
The Lignite Council is asking that all members, employees and stakeholders update their contact information in preparation for the Mine & Plant Guide and Membership Directory slated to be delivered in early April. Each year, the Lignite Council distributes a Mine & Plant Guide to members which list pertinent budget, contact and equipment information for all North Dakota lignite facilities. As part of this process, the Lignite Council will also be distributing a membership directory.
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Eighth-grade students at Wacther Middle School in Bismarck, ND,
participated in a Cake Pan Mining Activity on Wednesday, March 16.
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