NEWS UPDATE: 02/22/2002

Lignite Vision 21 Applicants Conducting
Studies Regarding New Lignite Plants

The primary focus of Lignite Vision 21 Program activities in recent months has been ongoing work on Phase III environmental, transmission and generation studies by the three project applicants. Following are updates on each of the three applicants:

  • Great River Energy is analyzing three sites including the Coal Creek Station, Stanton Station and New Salem. According to Tim Seck, Project Manager, Baseload Study, Great River Energy is evaluating the transmission and environmental issues associated with a new plant, along with the costs and operational issues associated with the following three generation technologies: pulverized coal-supercritical; pulverized coal-subcritical; and circulating fluidized bed.

  • MDU / Westmoreland is analyzing the former Gascoyne Mine site. "We are proceeding with a number of contractors researching areas for the inputs to our feasibility study. Key in those areas are transmission and environmental issues," says Duane Steen, Administration and Projects Manager, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.

  • Great Northern Power Development (GNPD) is analyzing three sites including South Heart, Crooked Creek and New Salem. According to Rich Voss, Vice President of Power Development, GNPD has selected Kiewit Mining Group, Inc., Omaha, NE, as its mining partner. GNPD will also announce a developer / utility partner in the near future. "In the study areas, we are presently partnering with GRE and MDU on a transmission study and with MDU on a generation study," says Voss.

The Lignite Vision 21 Program is a state / industry partnership designed to encourage construction of the next "state-of-the-art" baseload power plant in North Dakota so it is available in the 2008-2010 timeframe. As proposed, the Lignite Vision 21 Program is designed to meet growing regional electrical needs and revitalize the lignite industry by producing 3 million more tons of coal, creating 1,300 new jobs and generating an additional $6 million annually in tax revenue. The Lignite Energy Council manages the Lignite Vision 21 Program for the Industrial Commission of North Dakota.

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Lignite Vision 21 Program Web Site
(What is the Lignite Vision 21 Program?)
(State of North Dakota's Involvement)

Lignite Energy Council Web Site