The Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s (MISO) Board of Directors received approval late yesterday from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to add an 11th stakeholder sector so that the Lignite Energy Council and other members of the coal sector can have a role on the MISO Advisory Committee (AC). The AC serves as a forum for MISO members to keep apprised of MISO’s activities and to provide information and advice to the Board of Directors on policy matters of concern.

LEC President Jason Bohrer

For the past couple of years, the Lignite Energy Council has expressed an interest and has actively sought to become a member of the AC. MISO is not only the primary electric market in the Upper Midwest where most of the North Dakota lignite-based plants sell their power but it also acts as the “traffic cop” in deciding what power sources will be dispatched first, second, third and so on.

“The importance of coal-based electricity to the regional power market can’t be overstated,” said Lignite Energy Council President and CEO Jason Bohrer. “On any given day of the year – especially in the cold winter or hot summer months – coal-based electricity accounts for approximately 40 to 50 percent of the generation fuel mix on the MISO grid.”

The importance of North Dakota’s lignite-based plants is even greater when it comes to grid resilience than other coal-based plants, Bohrer added. Because lignite-based generating stations sit beside the mines, a ready-fuel supply is always available. While railroads and stockpiles of coal at other plants provide fuel as well, the mine-mouth plants are not interrupted by temporary poor track conditions or lack of adequate transportation routes.

“The lignite industry is unique because our power sources are sited next to the mines, giving us unequalled resilience at a low cost during difficult weather events such as the polar vortex of January-February 2019,” Bohrer said.

It’s important to note that the voice of coal-based electricity will not only be the Lignite Energy Council. Members of the LEC along with the North Dakota Public Service Commission also sit on various MISO boards. In addition, the new “Affiliate Sector” will have new members join such as America’s Power, a national advocacy group that represents coal mines, electric utilities and railroads, along with coal mines, other state coal associations and state chambers of commerce.

“We want to thank FERC and MISO for working with the Lignite Energy Council in allowing the voice of trade associations to be heard.” Bohrer said. “We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead as we work to preserve the affordability and reliability of the regional electric grid.”