Safety and Distinguished Service awards presented at Lignite Energy Council’s Fall Conference

Two lignite mines and four power plants received safety awards, and a dozen individuals were honored for their contributions to the lignite industry during the Lignite Energy Council’s virtual fall conference held on September 30 and October 1, 2020.

Employees of the Freedom Mine, the R.M. Heskett Station, the Leland Olds Station and the Lewis & Clark Station were recognized with Distinguished Safety Awards for having accident rates below the industry average.

Employees at the Coyote Creek Mine and Coyote Station received special recognition for achieving the lowest overall accident incident rate in the lignite industry in 2019. They will share a traveling trophy known as “Lignite Louie” for winning the Safety Excellence Award.

“The lignite users and producers in this region believe that the efficient production of a low-cost, reliable energy source cannot be achieved without serious attention to the health and safety of the employees who work to produce that product,” said Jason Bohrer, president and CEO of the Lignite Energy Council. “That’s why we recognize those companies that are leading the way in the field of safety.”

Kim Wanner with Northern Coatings, Inc., was nominated by Minnkota Power Cooperative for the LEC’s Contractor/Supplier of the Year Award.

Northern Coatings, Inc., a locally owned industrial painting firm based in Bismarck won the Lignite Energy Council’s 2020 Contractor/Supplier Member of the Year Award. Northern Coatings was nominated by employees at the Milton R. Young Station.

MDU Resources received the Community Service Award for their sponsorship of the “Teen of the Week” series that highlights local teens and their accomplishments in the Bismarck Tribune.

North Dakota Representative Corey Mock of Grand Forks received the Lignite Public Service Award for his work in the Legislature to promote legislation that encourages an “all-of-the-above” balance of generation sources in the state.

Gerry Pfau and Dan Laudal of Minnkota Power Cooperative received the distinguished service award for research and development for their leadership roles during the engineering and design stages of Project Tundra, a project at the Young Station to capture and store carbon dioxide underground.

Charlie Gorecki with the Energy & Environmental Research Center also received the distinguished service award for research and development for his leadership with the Plains CO2 Partnership before his promotion to lead the EERC.

Julie Fedorchak, one of three North Dakota Public Service Commissioners, received the distinguished service award for regulatory programs in recognition of her work in representing the interests of North Dakotans as an advisor to the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO), the regional electric grid.

Kent Ellis, North Dakota Energy Education Coordinator, was recognized with the distinguished public relations award for his outstanding work with the NextGen ND program, a joint venture between energy and farming interests to help inform youth in the state about career opportunities in the oil and gas, coal and agriculture industries.

John Weeda, a retiree of Great River Energy, was honored with the distinguished service award for education. Weeda was a presenter for many years at the annual teachers’ seminar where he talked about generation at the Coal Creek Station.

Seven individuals were recognized for their contributions to the lignite industry over the span of their careers. They were honored with the Ambassador of Lignite Award for their achievements and support of the lignite industry. The winners included:

  • Kevin Thomas, Minnkota Power Cooperative;
  • Mary Jo Roth, Great River Energy;
  • Alan Welte, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.;
  • Dave Sauer, Dakota Gasification Company;
  • John Jacobs, Basin Electric Power Cooperative;
  • Pat Wingenbach, Butler Machinery; and
  • Jeff Reiser, Dean’s Bulk Service.

The North Dakota Public Service Commission also recognized The Coteau Properties’ Freedom Mine for their work in their efforts to avoid a significant cultural resource site. The Freedom Mine is the nation’s largest lignite mine and provides fuel to Basin Electric Power Cooperative. The Mine is headquartered north of Beulah, North Dakota, and operations occur north of Beulah and Hazen.