North Dakota's clean power industry has been on the move, and the state was able to celebrate its forward progress during the first-annual American Clean Power Week. American Clean Power Week took place last week. Powering North Dakota worked with stakeholders statewide in celebrating clean power.
Governor Doug Burgum recently declared Oct. 25-29 Clean Power Week across the state of North Dakota. This proclamation came several months after he announced a goal for North Dakota to become carbon neutral by 2030. The innovation and energy production provided by clean power is a large part of the plan to meet that goal.
One essential positive impact clean power has had on North Dakota communities is the creation of a renewable energy workforce. Jay Johnson, Wind Energy Technology program director for Lake Region State College, explained, "Supporters of American clean power come from widely diverse backgrounds, but whatever the personal motivation, they all need stable, good-paying jobs to chase down what they want -- and renewable jobs do just that. Renewable energy is powering North Dakota's future workforce and is building strong opportunities for communities across the state."
In addition to a clean power workforce, wind and solar certainly offer other benefits to North Dakota's economy. According to the American Clean Power Association, clean power has invested $19 billion in capital across the state through wind power, solar energy, and energy storage projects. These investments are in addition to the total of $22.5 million in state and local taxes that clean power has generated across North Dakota.
Rugby Chamber of Commerce's Laurie Odden testified to the economic growth powered by wind and solar across the state, "As the Executive Director of the Rugby Chamber of Commerce, I want to see our local economy grow. Renewable energy can make that happen. In 2020 alone, renewable energy supported more than 2,000 jobs across North Dakota while generating $6 million in state and local tax revenue. Renewable energy is a significant contributor to both our state and local economy, and North Dakota focuses on its growth."
Clean power has also provided benefits to North Dakota's farmers and rural landowners. In 2021, land lease payments made to participating landowners reached a total of $21.6 million. These payments are consistent without the negative impacts of flooding or drought.
Powering North Dakota celebrated these and the numerous other benefits that clean power brings to the state through a virtual panel late last week. Panelists included Al Anderson, director of the North Dakota Clean Sustainable Energy Authority; Brad Barth, executive director of Forward Devils Lake Economic Development; Jay Johnson, wind energy tech program director for Lake Region State college; Ryan Warner, co-founder of Lightspring, LLC; and John Weeda, director of the North Dakota Transmission Authority.
Last week, American Clean Power released its third-quarter data report, demonstrating ongoing nationwide growth of the clean energy industry. Congress is debating two legislative proposals which stand to catapult North Dakota's clean power development investments, the Infrastructure and Investment Act and the reconciliation bill.
Clean energy projects produce economic benefits throughout North Dakota. Farmers and ranchers can balance losses from natural disasters with reliable supplemental income that diversifies their land use with renewable energy projects. In addition, the state has benefitted from increased tax revenue, a driving force for community infrastructure, emergency services and education projects, while also boosting jobs across the clean energy sector and more.
To celebrate American Clean Power Week, Powering North Dakota captured the stories of Kyle Leake (an installer for Lightspring Solar, LLC) and Mitchell Bettenhausen (Allete Technician for the Glen Ullin Energy Center).
Categories: North Dakota, Energy