For more information:
Retha Mattern
Executive Director of Public Engagement
Lignite Energy Council
O: 701.355.2192 | C: 701.390.9185
rethamattern@lignite.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 18, 2025
BISMARCK, N.D. – The Lignite Energy Council today praised the U.S. House of Representatives for passing H.R. 3616, the Reliable Power Act, a measure focused on strengthening electric grid reliability and ensuring federal power sector rules do not undermine resource adequacy.
“The House took an important step to keep electric reliability front and center in federal energy policy,” said Jonathan Fortner, President and CEO of the Lignite Energy Council. “As electricity demand continues to grow, it is critical that regulators fully consider the impacts of major rules on the power system and on the communities that depend on it.”
H.R. 3616, sponsored by Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak and co-sponsored by Representatives Troy Balderson and Randy Weber, creates accountability by ensuring that no federal rule threatening grid reliability can be finalized without approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. After past regulatory actions that strained reliable generation, this measure represents a critical step toward ensuring the grid can keep the lights on, especially during times of peak demand.
“For states like North Dakota, reliability is not theoretical,” Fortner said. “During extreme cold and periods of peak demand, baseload generation keeps homes warm, hospitals operating, and critical infrastructure running.”
Fortner noted that rising electricity demand driven by data centers, manufacturing growth, and broader electrification makes maintaining existing reliable resources even more important.
“We appreciate the House’s action to keep reliability front and center,” Fortner added. “We look forward to working with the Senate as this resolution moves forward.”
About the Lignite Energy Council
The Lignite Energy Council is a regional trade association representing North Dakota’s lignite industry, including producers, electric utilities, and more than 200 suppliers and contractors. The industry supports approximately 12,000 direct and indirect jobs and generates more than $5.5 billion in annual business volume. The Council advocates for policies that support reliable, affordable energy and promotes responsible development of lignite resources through education, research, and engagement.
For more information, visit www.lignite.com.