The Lignite Energy Council recently honored 26 individuals for their dedication and contributions to the lignite industry during the Council’s 45th Annual Meeting on April 4, 2018, in Bismarck, ND.

“Our theme was ‘Unlocking 800 years of Energy,’ and certainly one of the keys are employees of the Council, members or public servants who share their time and talents to benefit the entire industry. These individuals help sustain a strong lignite industry that benefits our region by providing reliable, low-cost and increasingly clean electricity,” said Jason Bohrer, president & CEO of the Lignite Energy Council.

• Lignite Public Service Award: Representative Jeff Delzer  and Senator Ray Holmberg  for their participation on the Lignite Research Council, a state-industry partnership that funds lignite research projects to improve efficiencies and reduce emissions.

• Distinguished Service Award – Research and Development Program: Five were honored for their efforts to capture and store carbon dioxide from new and existing lignite-based power plants. Honored were: Bill Sawyer, ALLETE Clean Energy; Jim Sheldon, Basin Electric Power Cooperative; Craig Bleth, Minnkota Power Cooperative; Jason Laumb and Wes Peck, Energy & Environmental Research Center.

• Distinguished Service Award – Government Action Program: Two individuals were honored for their efforts to develop a presentation that explains the regional electric markets and how North Dakota utilities operate within those markets: Dale Niezwaag, Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Jay Skabo, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. 

• Distinguished Service Award – Public Relations: Sarah Flath, environmental specialist at The Coteau Properties’ Freedom Mine, received the award for being the face of the lignite industry for three TV advertisements in the past six months.

• Distinguished Service Award – Education: Matthew Stoltz, Basin Electric Power Cooperative received an award for his participation in the annual teachers’ seminar. Stoltz provides information regarding the transmission facilities that connect the customers to the power plants.

• Lignite Leadership Award: Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Paul Sukut for chairing the Lignite Energy Council’s board of directors from 2016 to 2018.

• Ambassador of Lignite Award: Several employees were honored for their many years of dedicated service and expertise to the lignite industry. They included: Joe Friedlander, North American Coal Corporation; Mitch Stafford, BTINet; Randy Lenius, Great River Energy; Dave McMillan, ALLETE, Inc.; Tony Stroh, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.; Cris Oehler, Otter Tail Power Cooperative; Wayne Albrecht, The Coteau Properties Company; Rich Voss, Great Northern Properties; Rob Lighthizer, The Falkirk Mining Company; Herb Carpenter, Border States Electric; and Tyler Engberg, Northern Dewatering, Inc.

• Lignite Employee Service Awards: Three Lignite Energy Council employees were also honored for their years of service: Steve Van Dyke was recognized for his 15^th anniversary; Kay LaCoe has completed 10 years and Jason Bohrer is completing his 5^th year.