Prairie Public Television premieres
"Energy: Powering North Dakota's Economy"
FARGO, N.D., September 7, 2005—What is the future for North Dakota’s
energy industry? Is the state as attractive as it could be for alternative
energy developers? “Energy: Powering North Dakota’s Economy,”
a new production from Prairie Public Television, explores North Dakota’s
volatile energy industry. The documentary premieres Tuesday, September
13, at 8 p.m. (CT) and will be rebroadcast September 25 at 5 p.m. (CT).
“Energy: Powering North Dakota’s Economy” investigates
the budding renewable fuels potential for North Dakota and reviews the
state of our existing coal and oil resources. Prairie Public producer
Matt Olien has investigated the boons and busts of the past and explored
the state’s current issues.
The documentary visits the Edgeley-Kulm Wind Farm, the Coal Creek Plant
in Underwood, the Great Plains Synfuels Plant in Beulah, the Grand Forks
Energy and Environmental Research Center and a sustainable energy farm
near Kulm, among others.
“Energy: Powering North Dakota’s Economy” also investigates
the potential of ethanol, bio-diesel fuels and the new phenomena of E85
Ethanol gasoline — which is much less expensive that regular gasoline.
The documentary visits one of two new plants and a new bio-diesel plant
going up near Minot.
“Energy: Powering North Dakota’s Economy”has a content
rich web site and will be broadcast in both standard and high definition
formats. The web address www.prairiepublic.org/corporate
has more information about high definition programming and the frequencies
on which these programs can be seen. Production funding for "Energy:
Powering North Dakota's Economy" is provided by USDA Rural Development.
To purchase a DVD of the program, call Prairie Public Television at 800-359-6900.
***SEGMENTS***
Segments in “Energy: Powering North Dakota’s Economy”
include the following:
- Potential versus reality and the legislative wrangling that sometime
pits renewable forms of energy against existing forms.
- The history of the coal industry in North Dakota and the current state
of the industry. Visits the Coal Creek Plant in Underwood, ND and the
Great Plains Synfuels Plant in Beulah.
- The history of the oil industry and today’s challenges. Explores
boons and busts over the years and the volatile nature of this industry.
- North Dakota’s wind farms require wide expanses of land, of which
North Dakota has plenty. Visits the Edgeley-Kulm Wind Farm, which has
41 towers in southeaster North Dakota. Also tours DMI Industries in West
Fargo, which manufactures wind towers.
- Ethanol and bio-diesel fuels are gaining in popularity. New E85 ethanol
gasoline is much cheaper, but not all cars are compatible. Visits a plant
in Richardton, ND, a new bio-diesel plant going up near Minot and the
Alchem Ethanol plant in Grafton.
- Visits the Energy and Environmental Research Center in Grand Forks for
an interview with their charismatic director, Dr. Gerald Groenewold. Travels
to the Bismarck State College Energy Program, which trains students to
work in power plants.
- Visits Brad Crabtree and his family, who have constructed their own
sustainable energy farm near Kulm. He powers his whole operation through
his wind tower and solar panels.
Closed Captioned; Rated G
Edgeley Wind Farm
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