{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=51245978-84a3-437e-b42f-e5d12ebe39dc", "Heitkamp Helps Break Ground for North Dakota\u2019s Newest Ethanol Plant", "2013-08-09", "2013", "2013-08", "Democrat", "House", "ND", "Heidi Heitkamp", "H001069", "www.heitkamp.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SPIRITWOOD, N.D. \u2013 U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today touted North Dakota\u2019s leadership with an all-of-the-above energy approach while helping break ground at the new Dakota Spirit AgEnergy Ethanol Biorefinery. Heitkamp has continued to aggressively push for policies on the national level to support North Dakota\u2019s energy development, while also expanding the state\u2019s successful approaches throughout the country to help the U.S. become energy independent.\r\n\u201cBy expanding the use of biofuels \u2013 particularly ethanol \u2013 in North Dakota, we\u2019re reinforcing the strength of our state\u2019s diverse energy resources.\u00a0Those at the Dakota Spirit AgEnergy Ethanol Biorefinery have been incredible partners as their new plant will not only be more efficient and lower our carbon footprint, but it will also support well-paying jobs in the community and help our corn growers expand their operations,\u201d said Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. \u201cThis project is another reminder that biofuels are a legitimate renewable resource that could help lead us toward North American energy independence, while also supporting great jobs in our rural communities.\u201d\r\nLast year, officials from Dakota Spirit AgEnergy reached out to Heitkamp to let her know that they were at a standstill with EPA on the approval process for the plant and could face problems if the delays persisted. Heitkamp made it a priority and put pressure on the agency to get this done, and now the refinery is underway.\r\nSince taking office, Heitkamp has continually pushed for energy policies to allow states like North Dakota to develop their natural resources without the federal government burdening this development and production with excessive regulations. This week, Heitkamp hosted U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell in the state to showcase how North Dakota is aggressively developing its energy resources and to help the Secretary better understand North Dakota\u2019s comprehensive, states-first approach to energy development.\r\n\u201cThis is yet another example of our state supporting an all-of-the-above energy approach. Whether it is ethanol, oil, coal, natural gas, or wind -- we support it all,\u201d Heitkamp continued. \u201cAs I told Secretary Jewell, the success of our approach to energy in North Dakota should be replicated on the national level.\u201d\r\nDakota Spirit AgEnergy, which is owned by Great River Energy, plans to use 23 million bushels of corn a year to produce 65 million gallons of ethanol. According to Dakota Spirit AgEnergy, more than 300 jobs will be supported by the construction and operation of the plant.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=51245978-84a3-437e-b42f-e5d12ebe39dc"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8782101795077324, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}