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.
What the State is Doing
The Empower ND Commission lists 21 goals this past March:
Energy proposal offers problems for W.Va., nation