There is no other region or state in America that has a greater capability of producing more and varied kinds of energy than North Dakota.

Sen Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., set this framework for an impassioned and energetic talk to the Mon-Dak Energy Alliance Thursday evening at Williston’s International Airport Inn.

Dorgan said he doesn’t own an oil well and has never drilled one. But this lack of first-hand knowledge didn’t stop him from approaching the United States Geological Survey to request a formal evaluation of the Bakken Formation for oil potential.

The result was the USGS stating the Bakken Formation holds the largest assessed amount of recoverable oil that the agency has ever reviewed, he said, which was very important.

“That USGS assessment all of a sudden gave credibility worldwide. It did it just like that,” he said while snapping his fingers in front of a large and attentive audience. Dorgan continues to fight for oil research dollars to be included in the federal energy budget because it’s those dollars that have produced the technology that allows drillers to tap the Bakken today, he said. Meanwhile, he said there continues to be problems in the oil futures market that need to be remedied, which probably creates much controversy within groups like that gathered Thursday evening.

“$147 a barrel for oil was not justified by supply and demand,” he said of the peak price for oil last summer.

Instead, it was investment bankers and others only interested in speculation who drove prices up, Dorgan said.

“We need to fix that oil futures market,” he added.

Regarding coal, which is the state’s most abundant resource, the dilemma is when you burn it, CO2 is released into the atmosphere, he said.

“We’re going to have a lower carbon future. We need to find a way to be able to use that coal,” he said.

Dorgan believes a day is coming when a zero-emission, coal-fired electrical generating plant is built. Until that technology is developed, he said any climate legislation needs to have targets and timetables that meet our abilities.

Dorgan believes, however, if this country had the ability to put human footprints on the moon, it certainly can find a way to use coal in the future without damaging the environment.

North Dakota also has a great capacity to produce energy from wind, as Dorgan said the state is the windiest in the country. But as is the case with oil, distribution of the product hampers the opportunity.

“We need to build an interstate energy transmission facilty,” he said. “The only way you can do it in respect to the electricity that we generate is to have a modern transmission grid capability.”

Dorgan also believes “it’s nuts for us not to say here is where we are headed for a decade” when it comes to legislation regarding production tax credits for wind.

“Count on it, believe it, this is where we are going,” he said should be the mentality behind federal legislation in that regard.

Dorgan expects it to be later this year that the Senate is going to begin discussions on an energy policy.

“I have been pushing very hard, so far unsuccessfully, let’s not bring up climate change first. Let’s bring up energy first,” he said. “I think that is the best way for us to proceed. I feel very strongly that we need to do energy policy that is smart, effective; that produces and conserves.”

He believes this is a time when we don’t think big enough when it comes to energy.

“We have a chance with this unbelievable resource that is in our lap to think bigger, to think better, to play an integral part in this country’s future,” Dorgan said.