Senator John Hoeven, Senator Kevin Cramer, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford held roundtables with U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette and representatives from North Dakota’s electric utilities, lignite coal industry and oil and natural gas producers.
“North Dakota is an energy powerhouse and a major contributor to our country’s economic and national security,” said Senator Hoeven. “Our efforts are about ensuring continued access to affordable and reliable energy for homes and businesses. That’s exactly what coal provides for our electrical grid, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and it’s why we are working to better secure the 45Q tax credit to ensure we continue harnessing this abundant resource for baseload power while also reducing emissions and promoting environmental stewardship. At the same time, we’ve prioritized helping our oil producers through the instability they’ve faced in global energy markets this year, while also continuing our work to provide the necessary regulatory relief and support the development of needed infrastructure, like pipelines and transmission lines. I appreciate Secretary Brouillette for meeting with our producers to discuss our shared efforts and these critical issues firsthand.”
“The economic growth and certainty created by the Trump Administration pre-COVID has allowed for robust domestic energy production – making us the number one oil and gas producer in the world – and North Dakota has contributed immensely to our energy independence,” said Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette. “Instead of regulating certain types of energy out of existence, is imperative we continue an innovative “all-of-the-above” energy strategy to further provide economic growth and opportunity, well-paying jobs, and reliable and affordable electricity to the American people.”
“Under President Trump and Secretary Brouillette’s energy dominance agenda, America is safer, emissions are lower, and our producers are respected on the world stage,” said Senator Cramer. “We must be constantly seeking ways to keep this energy revolution moving forward, and today our coal and oil producers got to play a leading role in that effort, expressing concerns and offering ideas with an exceptional and attentive Energy Secretary.”
“We’re finally in a place where we’re able to sell energy to our friends versus buy it from our enemies. That’s the biggest geopolitical shift in our lifetime,” Gov. Burgum said.
Leveraging 45Q & Providing a Path Forward for Coal
“The Lignite Energy Council and its 250 members wish to thank Senator John Hoeven for putting together a roundtable regarding the state’s lignite industry and the challenges it currently faces. The state’s coal mines and power plants are responsible for supplying affordable and reliable power to the regional grid, but the current electric market doesn’t adequately value the resiliency of baseload energy. The recent rolling blackouts have shined a bright light on baseload energy sources. Hopefully, markets can level the playing field and allow coal to compete fairly against other generation sources,” said Jason Bohrer, president and CEO of the Lignite Energy Council.
“Members of the North Dakota oil and gas industry were pleased to meet with Energy Secretary Brouillette today, and appreciate Senator Hoeven’s continued work to address the issues facing our industry right now,” said Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council. “With federal assistance under the CARES Act, we are able to get people to work during this downturn. We are grateful for these leaders who understand the value of Bakken oil and the energy security we provide for American consumers, and we look forward to working together to address the issues impacting the industry.”
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