NEWS
RELEASE: 05/02/2001
Industrial Commission Approves Funding for
Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. to Explore Feasibility of New “Lignite Vision 21” Power Plant Near Gascoyne, ND
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 Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. in its efforts to develop a
new power plant in North Dakota under the Lignite Vision 21 Project.
The
funds will be matched by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. to conduct the
necessary detailed environmental, economic and transmission feasibility
studies which could lead to the construction of a new $750 million, 500
megawatt lignite-fired power plant near Gascoyne, ND.
Approximately
$2.85 million will be available for initial feasibility studies and up to
$7.15 million will be available if Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. decides to
proceed with permitting and construction.
In
a joint statement, Industrial Commission members – Governor John Hoeven,
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Agriculture Commissioner Roger
Johnson – said, “We are pleased that Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. has
stepped forward to participate in the Lignite Vision 21 Project.
If realized, this effort will diversify the economy of our state
and generate a number of new high quality jobs.
It may also result in one or more power plants featuring the latest
clean coal technologies to produce low-cost electricity in an
environmentally responsible manner.”
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 Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. is
important to the economy of North Dakota and in meeting the region’s
growing energy needs.”
According to Ron Tipton,
Chief Executive Officer of Montana-Dakota Utilties Co., “As one of the
state’s oldest energy providers, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. is excited
about the Vision 21 Project and the potential it holds for North
Dakota.”
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.
A 500-megawatt power plant results in substantial economic
development for North Dakota by producing 3 million more tons of coal,
creating 1,300 new jobs and generating an additional $6 million annually
in tax revenue.
The Industrial
Commission– on April 19, 2001 – approved up to $10 million in funding
for Great River Energy to also explore the feasibility of a new “Lignite
Vision 21” power plant.
North Dakota’s
Lignite Research, Development and Marketing Program is a multi-million
dollar state / industry partnership that concentrates on near term,
practical R&D projects that provide the opportunity to preserve and
enhance development of our state’s abundant lignite resources.
Over 19,000 jobs, $1.4 billion in business volume and $65 million
in tax revenue are generated by the lignite industry for the State of
North Dakota each year.
The
Lignite Research Program is overseen by the North Dakota Industrial
Commission, consisting of Gov. John Hoeven, Attorney General Wayne
Stenehjem, and Agriculture Commissioner 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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