For more information:
Retha Mattern
Executive Director of Public Engagement
Lignite Energy Council
701.355.2192
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 5, 2025
BISMARCK, N.D. – The Lignite Energy Council applauds today’s announcement by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin approving North Dakota’s coal combustion residuals (CCR) program. The decision recognizes the strength of North Dakota’s long-standing, state-led approach to environmental management and marks another important step toward responsible, locally driven regulation.
“The EPA’s approval of North Dakota’s coal combustion residuals program is cooperative federalism at its best,” said Jonathan Fortner, President & CEO of the Lignite Energy Council. “Our state has decades of proven experience managing these materials safely and responsibly, thanks to the skill and care of our coal miners and power plant workers.”
Administrator Zeldin’s decision to make this announcement in North Dakota highlights the importance of coal country to the nation’s energy future. His visit underscores the state’s record of balancing strong environmental performance with the reliable, affordable energy that keeps homes, businesses, and industries powered.
“The heartland of our nation deserves greater recognition for how we responsibly produce our natural resources while protecting the environment and powering America,” Fortner added. “This announcement demonstrates confidence in North Dakota’s leadership and technical expertise, reinforcing what we’ve long known: local knowledge and accountability lead to the best outcomes for both the environment and the economy.”
The approval allows North Dakota to permit and oversee the disposal and recycling of coal combustion residuals, or byproducts from coal-based electricity generation, through the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. North Dakota becomes just the fourth state in the nation with an EPA-approved CCR permit program, underscoring its reputation as a leader in both energy production and environmental stewardship.
“North Dakota has regulated coal combustion residuals effectively for more than 40 years, protecting both the environment and public health, and we appreciate the EPA and Administrator Zeldin for recognizing the strength and responsibility of our state-led approach,” said North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong, who was joined at the announcement by Rep. Julie Fedorchak and NDDEQ Director Dave Glatt.
North Dakota’s lignite industry directly employs thousands of workers and provides reliable, affordable electricity across the Upper Midwest. With this approval, state agencies and industry partners will continue advancing the responsible use and potential resource recovery from CCR materials, including opportunities to extract critical minerals and rare earth elements essential to U.S. manufacturing and technology.
About the Lignite Energy Council
The Lignite Energy Council, the voice for North Dakota’s coal industry, is a regional trade association representing lignite producers, electric utilities, and more than 150 businesses that supply goods and services to the mines and plants. The Council plays a vital role in supporting an industry that generates approximately $5.5 billion in gross business volume annually and contributes $100 million in state and local tax revenues. The lignite industry also facilitates 12,000 direct and indirect jobs across the state, strengthening North Dakota’s economy and energy landscape.