NEWS
RELEASE: 04/19/2001
Industrial Commission Approves Funding for Great
River Energy To Explore Feasibility of New “Lignite Vision 21” Power Plant
BISMARCK
-- The Industrial Commission of North Dakota today approved the Lignite
Research Council’s unanimous recommendation that up to $10 million be
available from the state’s Lignite Research, Development and Marketing
Program to assist Great River Energy in its efforts to develop a new power
plant in North Dakota under the Lignite Vision 21 Project.
The
funds will be matched by Great River Energy to conduct the necessary
detailed environmental, economic and transmission feasibility studies
which could lead to the construction of a new $700 million, 500 megawatt
lignite-fired power plant in North Dakota.
Approximately
$2.8 million will be available under Phase I (feasibility studies) and up
to $7.2 million will be available if Great River Energy decides to proceed
with Phase II (permitting and construction).
According
to Industrial Commission members, Governor John Hoeven, Attorney General
Wayne Stenehjem and Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, approval of
the matching funds is an important first step in the state’s initiative
to develop a new power plant in North Dakota.
“This
project will help expand the number of high quality jobs that are needed
in the state,” said Gov. Hoeven. "I am very pleased that Great
River Energy has stepped forward to invest in the project. North Dakota
has an opportunity here to be a part of the solution to our nation's
energy crisis.”
Attorney
General Wayne Stenehjem said, “It is good news for the entire state that
Great River Energy is considering the development of a new power plant in
North Dakota, one that will use the latest technologies to provide
abundant energy to our region in an environmentally responsible manner.”
Agriculture
Commissioner Roger Johnson said, “We commend Great River Energy for its
efforts through the Lignite Vision 21 Project to help diversify the
economy of our state. The
lignite industry has proven to be a great partner with agriculture in
diversifying the economy of the state, and this development will help
strengthen those efforts.”
According
to John W. Dwyer, President of the Lignite Energy Council and Chairman of
the Lignite Research Council, “I applaud the Industrial Commission for
its foresight and continued support to develop a new power plant in North
Dakota. The effort by the
State and Great River Energy is important to the economy of North Dakota
and in meeting the region’s growing energy needs.”
Through
the feasibility studies, Great River Energy will analyze many critical
technical and economic factors. “We will hopefully have the results by the end of 2002 and
can then make a decision whether to build a new coal based power plant
facility in North Dakota,” said Rick Lancaster, Vice President of Public
Affairs, Great River Energy.
Lancaster
pointed out that Great River Energy has owned and operated power plants in
North Dakota for nearly 35 years and “we like doing business here. We
commend the Industrial Commission’s proactive support of the lignite
industry and we look forward to working with the state on this study.”
Great
River Energy, headquartered in Elk River, Minn., currently owns and
operates two power plants in North Dakota. Coal Creek Station, a
1,081-megawatt facility located near Underwood, is North Dakota’s
largest power plant, employing more than 200 people. Stanton Station, a
186-megawatt facility located near Stanton, employs nearly 75 people.
Great
River Energy is a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative
providing wholesale electric energy and related services to 29
distribution cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The
Industrial Commission is partnering with the Lignite Energy Council on the
Lignite Vision 21 Project, a state/industry partnership to encourage
construction of the next “state-of-the-art” base-load power plant in
North Dakota so that it is available in the 2008-2009 timeframe.
As
proposed, the Lignite Vision 21 Project 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 Research Program is overseen by the Industrial Commission,
consisting of Gov. John Hoeven as Chairman, Attorney General Wayne
Stenehjem, and Commissioner of Agriculture Roger Johnson. The program is a
cooperative state/industry effort concentrating on near-term, practical
projects to enhance development of the state's abundant lignite resources.
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