North Dakota’s lignite facilities include seven coal-based power plants, one synfuels plant and five surface mines. These facilities work together to provide low-cost energy…including electricity and synthetic natural gas. The Great Plains Synfuels Plant also produces valuable fertilizers that are used by area farmers. About 30 million tons of lignite are mined annually and the land is reclaimed to a state as good or better than before mining. North Dakota is also one of a handful of clean air states, based on the EPA’s ambient air standards. This graphic shows where the facilities are located. The area of Mercer, McLean and Oliver Counties is known as “Coal Country” because of the close proximity of mines and plants.