Many facets and factions are involved in shaping North Dakota’s energy future. The 2005 North Dakota Legislature passed a strengthened renewable fuels bill designed to help North Dakota achieve its energy potential with various new, renewable forms of energy while supporting the important lignite coal and oil industries.
Despite the removal of usage mandates on wind, ethanol and bio-diesel forms of energy and other compromises, the bill includes a number of elements heralded by renewable fuels advocates including:In addition, the new legislation creates an Office of Renewable Energy to assist in the development of renewable energy within the state and promote the conservation of energy and the wise use of energy resources in both the public and private sectors. The office will administer the programs and advance information pertaining to the state and federal incentives available for the full range of renewable energy sources.
The bill also established a transmission authority to study the crucial issue of exporting energy out of North Dakota and the resulting high-cost transmission lines that would have to be built to accommodate that export potential.
According to House Majority Leader, Rick Berg, “These initiatives create incentives for private investment in renewable energy and give our ag producers additional markets for their products.”
Will the comprehensive strategy result in a strong and effective role for all of North Dakota’s diverse energy products? Various legislators and energy officials who were for and against House Bill 1308 discuss the legislation and its impact on North Dakota’s diverse energy markets - wind coal, ethanol, bio-diesel and oil and gas.