The 2009 North Dakota Legislature reauthorized the commission for another round after the group produced a working document that focuses on 21 energy goals and policy measures to accomplish those goals. The commission falls under the auspices of the North Dakota Department of Commerce and is chaired by state Commissioner Shane Goettle. Goettle and Gov. John Hoeven are participating in today’s meeting.
“Our approach is to develop all of our energy resources and do it with good partnerships and deploying the latest technology,” Hoeven said Friday in advance of today’s gathering.
He said the Empower ND Commission includes members representing traditional and renewable energy industry experts.
“We think that is the best way to work this process, is where you actually have the energy companies driving the process to help develop the public policy,” Hoeven said. He expects the efforts of the group this time “to keep building on this comprehensive approach.”
Hoeven said the various energy projects under way or being proposed for the state continue to evolve. As a result, the state has to make sure it has the right incentives and supports in place.
The 21 goals the commission unveiled in its report this past March are as follows:
1. Double North Dakota’s energy production from all sources by the year 2025 to drive economic growth and help the nation achieve greater energy independence.
2. Support the nation’s 25X25 Initiative to derive at least 25 percent of all energy produced from renewable sources by 2025.
3. Increase installed capacity of wind generation to 5,000 megawatts by 2020, for existing and regional markets conditioned upon a prior commensurate increase in North Dakota transmission export capacity and a cost-effective and equitable allocation of the associated cost to North Dakota customers.
4. Increase North Dakota’s energy export capacity to 7,500 megawatts in coordination with other states and regional planning entities to facilitate permitting, construction and upgrading transmission systems by 2020.
5. Build one, and possibly more, clean-coal electric generation plants in North Dakota.
6. Produce 450 million gallons of ethanol by 2011 and develop both in-state and out-of-state markets for ethanol and associated byproducts.
7. Build new biodiesel plants in North Dakota to produce 135 million gallons by 2015.
8. Encourage development of economically feasible refining projects in North Dakota.
9. Be recognized as the 6th largest oil producing state nationally, up from current position as the 8th largest oil producing state.
10. Increase the amount of natural gas processed in North Dakota by 64 percent to 75 billion cubic feet per year by 2012.
11. Retrofit existing electric generation units to meet new environmental standards.
12. Facilitate the development of new lignite gasification/liquefaction facilities in North Dakota to produce lignite-to-liquid fuels, hydrogen, and other chemicals or natural gas.
13. Develop commercial biomass production and use in North Dakota. This would include, but not be limited to, efforts in biomass for heating and processing, co-firing of biomass with coal and other fossil fuels, anaerobic digestion, landfill and other waste gas recovery and perennial grass.
14. Become a national leader in the development of economically viable, production-scale cellulosic ethanol production facilities.
15. Increase energy efficiency in North Dakota through education and promotion of energy savings best practices and programs.
16. Exceed North Dakota’s 1984 historic peak production of 148,000 barrels of oil a day by producing 175,000 barrels a day.
17. Sustain a level of oil production of at least 150,000 barrels a day for 10 years.
18. Support a market for all energy products driven by consumer demand.
19. Attract a sufficient number of workers to fill energy related jobs due to retirements, attrition and growth within the energy industries.
20. Ensure adequate water, power, and infrastructure for energy development and for the communities in which energy development exists.
21. Encourage research and development programs that deal with solar, geothermal, hydrogen, hydro power, pumped storage and other alternative energy sources.
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