25.3083.01000
Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives Novak, D. Anderson, Dockter, J. Olson, S. Olson, Porter, Tveit
Senators Kessel, Patten, Boehm
A concurrent resolution recognizing December 6
th
as annual "Miner's Day" to honor the hard
work and dedication of coal miners, whose critical efforts provide reliable and affordable energy
to millions of people, fuel economic growth, and support the energy security of North Dakota
and the region.
WHEREAS, North Dakota's lignite coal industry is a cornerstone of the state's economy,
contributing over $5.5 billion in total business activity, employing 12,000 individuals with some of
the highest wages in the state, and generating $100 million in tax revenue to support schools,
infrastructure, and public services; and
WHEREAS, lignite coal generates 55 percent of North Dakota's electricity, providing
affordable and reliable power to more than 2 million families and businesses throughout the
upper Midwest while supporting regional energy security; and
WHEREAS, North Dakota consistently ranks among the states with the lowest residential
electricity rates in the nation, with an average rate of 11.44 cents per kilowatt-hour as of 2025,
ranking second-lowest in the United States, largely due to coal serving as the dominant source
of electricity generation in the state, which ensures reliability and affordability for residents; and
WHEREAS, North Dakota has an estimated 800-year supply of economically recoverable
lignite coal reserves, ensuring long-term energy independence and resource stability for the
state and the nation; and
WHEREAS, advancements in carbon capture technologies have unlocked opportunities to
transform carbon dioxide emissions from coal-based energy production into valuable
commodities, including fertilizers, industrial chemicals, enhanced oil recovery products, and
low-carbon fuels, which benefit North Dakota's agricultural and industrial sectors; and
WHEREAS, carbon dioxide is critical for plant life and global food production through
photosynthesis, and North Dakota's lignite coal industry is well-positioned to support agricultural
innovation by converting captured carbon into sustainable agricultural products; and
Page No. 1 25.3083.01000
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3017
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WHEREAS, value-added uses of lignite coal, such as activated carbon, synthetic graphite,
critical mineral and rare earth element extraction, and advanced materials, demonstrate the
versatility and economic potential of coal as a resource that extends beyond power generation;
and
WHEREAS, the development and deployment of lignite coal technologies create economic
diversification, expand market opportunities, and ensure the long-term sustainability of coal as a
critical resource for North Dakota; and
WHEREAS, federal regulations have created a de facto ban on the construction of new
coal-based power plants by imposing economically unfeasible requirements, jeopardizing the
continued operation of existing plants and discouraging private investment; and
WHEREAS, federal policies and tax incentives have provided subsidies to renewable
energy resources for over 30 years, creating market imbalances that place coal at a competitive
disadvantage and hinder its ability to contribute to a balanced, reliable, and affordable energy
mix; and
WHEREAS, North Dakota serves as a model for responsible resource development,
consistently reclaiming mined land to a condition equal to or better than its original state and
meeting all federal ambient air quality standards, one of only four states to have never violated
those standards; and
WHEREAS, affordable, reliable energy is the backbone of established industries in North
Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota such as agriculture, manufacturing, and energy
production is vital for supporting the growth of emerging technologies and innovations across
the Upper Midwest; and
WHEREAS, advancements in energy technologies to offer enormous potential to ensure
the continued use of lignite coal while reducing emissions and contributing to environmental
sustainability; and
WHEREAS, President Donald J. Trump declared a national energy emergency in January
2025, emphasizing the importance of using domestic energy resources, including lignite coal, to
strengthen the reliability and affordability of energy for the United States; and
WHEREAS, the administration's "unleashing American energy" executive order calls for the
expansion of energy exploration and production on federal lands and waters, reducing barriers
to development and promoting the use of reliable resources such as coal; and
Page No. 2 25.3083.01000
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WHEREAS, President Donald J. Trump directed the Environmental Protection Agency to
review and reconsider the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which classified greenhouse gases as
harmful to public health, potentially paving the way for balanced, economically viable
regulations that protect both the environment and energy production; and
WHEREAS, the repeal of the Endangerment Finding would eliminate regulatory barriers
that have effectively prevented the construction of new coal-based power plants, allowing for
the development of efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible coal technologies;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
NORTH DAKOTA, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:
That the Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly recognizes December 6
th
as "Miner's Day" to
honor the hard work and dedication of coal miners, whose critical efforts provide reliable and
affordable energy to millions of people, fuel economic growth, and support the energy security
of North Dakota and the region; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the federal government is urged to refrain from enacting
regulations that jeopardize the reliability and affordability of electric power in North Dakota,
while supporting policies that improve market conditions for base-load electricity, encourage the
expansion of generation resources, and accelerate research, development, and deployment of
technologies essential to the lignite plant of the future; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the federal government is urged to review and repeal
the 2009 Endangerment Finding to enable a balanced regulatory framework that supports coal-
based energy production and economic growth while addressing environmental concerns; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the federal government is urged to revise policies and
regulations that unfairly disadvantage coal-based energy production, ensuring a level playing
field that allows all energy resources, including coal, natural gas, nuclear, and renewables, to
compete fairly in the electricity marketplace; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the federal government work collaboratively with the
state of North Dakota, the North Dakota Congressional Delegation, and the lignite coal industry
to develop regulatory frameworks based on sound science, the status of existing technologies,
and economically feasible timelines; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that federal agencies increase their partnership with North
Dakota to accelerate technological advancements in critical and rare earth minerals, carbon
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capture and other innovations to ensure the continued operation of coal-based facilities while
reducing emissions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the Secretary of State forward copies of this resolution
to the President of the United States, the Administrator of the United States Environmental
Protection Agency, the Secretary of the Department of Energy, the Secretary of the Department
of the Interior, and each member of the North Dakota Congressional Delegation.
Page No. 4 25.3083.01000
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