Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota
In Regular Session Commencing Tuesday, January 7, 2025
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3017
(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, recent studies by the North Dakota Geological Survey have confirmed the presence of
significant concentrations of rare earth elements in the state's lignite coal deposits, including samples
that surpass the United States Department of Energy's economic extraction threshold of 300 parts per
million; and
WHEREAS, the extraction of critical minerals and rare earth elements from this state's lignite coal
seams and associated deposits offers the state an opportunity to diversify its economy, create high-
value careers, and establish itself as a leader in this emerging sector; and
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, responsible development of these resources can be achieved by ensuring
environmental stewardship, protecting freshwater supplies, and supporting land reclamation practices
that align with prior land use and productivity; 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 H.C.R. NO. 3017 - PAGE 2
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 and is vital for
supporting the growth of emerging technologies and innovations across the Upper Midwest; and
WHEREAS, advancements in energy technologies 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
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 H.C.R. NO. 3017 - PAGE 3
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 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. H.C.R. NO. 3017 - PAGE 4
____________________________ ____________________________
Speaker of the House President of the Senate
____________________________ ____________________________
Chief Clerk of the House Secretary of the Senate
Filed in this office this ___________day of _______________________________________, 2025,
at ________ o’clock ________M.
____________________________
Secretary of State