releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=36113700-D52C-471C-9906-2D8C5E3B5D86
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=36113700-D52C-471C-9906-2D8C5E3B5D86 | Heitkamp Highlights Path Forward for Coal, Innovative Technology During Basin Electric Annual Meeting | 2016-11-10 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | BISMARCK, N.D. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today reinforced her plan to create a viable, affordable path forward for coal as she joined key energy leaders, experts, and advocates for Basin Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting. Speaking alongside Julio Friedmann, the former U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Fossil Energy, Heitkamp discussed the current landscape for clean coal development in North Dakota and the need to spur technology innovation to help secure a strong future for coal across the country. Long a champion of boosting the role of coal as part of nation’s energy mix, Heitkamp has consistently worked with Friedmann in championing a strong path forward for coal through investments in technology, and has been leading the charge in the U.S. Senate toward sensible solutions that will incentivize new carbon technologies capable of turning carbon emissions into usable products. “Securing practical, cleaner energy solutions that create jobs and help boost the economy should be goals we can all support – and we’re providing the road map right here in North Dakota,” said Heitkamp. “Across the state, we’re reshaping the landscape of coal energy – and we’re doing it with cutting-edge technologies that reduce emissions and invigorate our local economies. Basin Electric has been a national leader on carbon capture and utilization and continually seeks opportunities to further the technology. In the U.S. Senate, I’m working to bring all sides together to encourage similar federal investment. By taking a page from North Dakota, we can incentivize the continued use of coal in energy generation in a way that secures a place for coal as part of a diverse and cleaner energy strategy for the country for years to come.”Since 2014, Heitkamp has been partnering with Friedmann to help advance a path forward for coal. After accepting her invitation to speak at a national symposium on coal energy she led in March 2014, Friedmann and Heitkamp continued discussions on how to best secure a place for coal as part of the nation’s energy mix. Their years-long work together helped promote a greater conversation within the Administration about how boost carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies to make coal a practical, more affordable resource going forward. A key advocate of energy innovation in North Dakota, Heitkamp is working to provide a strong path forward for coal, which North Dakotans rely on for almost 80 percent of their electricity. Earlier this week, Heitkamp visited Great River Energy’s (GRE) Spiritwood Station, the state’s first high-efficiency coal-fired power plant in more than 30 years which she played a key role in getting online. Within just two years of becoming fully operational, Spiritwood has helped contribute to significant emissions reductions and has created nearly 50 jobs in North Dakota. After working together with U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to boost recognition that the U.S. and world need to maintain a diverse energy mix that includes traditional energy sources while still reducing national and global carbon emissions, Heitkamp and Whitehouse introduced their bill in July to forge a middle ground on energy issues. Already, their bill – which would incentivize the development and use of carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies – has gained vast bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate. Background: Heitkamp’s work to find a realistic path forward for coal builds on her more than a decade of experience on the board of directors of Dakota Gasification, the one-of-a-kind synfuels plant in Beulah, N.D. During her service as North Dakota’s Tax Commissioner, on the North Dakota Industrial Commission, and as the state’s Attorney General, Heitkamp was able to work on viable solutions to make sure coal remains a strong part of the North Dakota’s energy mix. Since joining the Senate, Heitkamp has been committed to finding a realistic avenue for clean coal by: Securing a commitment in September 2015 from Janet McCabe, assistant administrator of the EPA, for her agency to send technical staff to North Dakota to work with utilities on the challenges in meeting EPA’s emissions reduction targets. During a meeting with the North Dakota congressional delegation the next day, McCabe again agreed to Heitkamp’s request that EPA technical staff visit North Dakota. Introducing major legislation in 2013 and again in 2015 to put coal on a viable path forward. Heitkamp’s bill – which she introduced in 2013 and again this Congress – would incentivize companies to invest in technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of coal-fired power. This is done through federal funding programs, federal support for private investment, and recommendations to Congress that provide insight on how best to support future CCS projects in the U.S. Then in May 2015, Heitkamp and Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia introduced a series of bills to make sure coal remains a key part of America’s energy mix, which incorporated Heitkamp’s initial legislation. Bringing EPA Administrator to North Dakota to talk about coal. Heitkamp has made it clear to the Administration and EPA that she disagrees with the agency’s policies regarding coal-fired power. After pressing EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Heitkamp brought McCarthy to North Dakota in February of 2014 so she could hear about the impacts of EPA regulations directly from North Dakotans. Heitkamp has also brought U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to North Dakota in August 2014 to push the U.S. Department of Energy for more investment in clean coal technology. Working closely with U.S. Energy Department (DOE) officials on finding a path forward for coal. Heitkamp has met with numerous top officials from DOE about the need to find a path forward for coal, including Friedmann and Energy Secretary Moniz. They both participated in clean coal symposiums at Heitkamp’s request, and she will continue to press both of them on the issue. Convening industry, lawmakers, and academics to discuss a viable path forward for coal. Heitkamp co-hosted a Coal Technology Symposium on Capitol Hill in 2014 that brought together industry, lawmakers, experts and academics – including the Energy and Environmental Research Center from Grand Forks – to discuss the importance of finding a viable path forward for coal. To a crowded room, Heitkamp laid out why it is so important for our nation to put in place realistic energy policies and discussed the vital role coal plays in providing affordable energy in North Dakota and around the country. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |