The Red River Valley research corridor along the eastern side of North Dakota promotes economic growth through its research grants, government contracts, and patents.  Meanwhile, Western North Dakota is experiencing another oil boom.  Economically, the state seems to be doing very well.

North Dakota generally produces more than 30 million tons of lignite coal each year.  New technologies allow oil to be extracted from areas where it wasn’t geographically possible a generation ago.  And the wind–North Dakota has more wind energy potential than any other state.

Some of the hottest topics in North Dakota’s energy industry right now deal with renewable energies.  Biodiesel, biomass and ethanol production are often in the news.   As the United States searches for ways to reduce its dependence on foreign oil, North Dakota is well-positioned for continued economic growth even as it heads down the clean-energy yellow brick road.

The technology  for clean coal fuel is costly, but it’s out there.  It may take decades for power companies to be able to fully invest in that technology.

So how does North Dakota balance its current fossil-fuel economy with the abundant renewable energy potential?

My thoughts (and I know I’m naive, but this is one way I picture it):

1. Clean energy is a valuable commodity.  As North Dakota invests in renewable energy and wind energy, customers outside the state could be willing to pay more for clean energy, and North Dakota could be a great source. 
2. The result could be more income for North Dakota-based energy companies.  
3. These companies could reinvest some of that money in adding to their clean coal technologies so that energy production from all sources becomes progressively more environmentally friendly.

Simplistic, I know, but it feels good to be trying to get my mind around the possibilities.  What wonderful opportunities there are in North Dakota!

And by the way, kudos to Basin Electric, MDU Resources Group, Inc.,  Great River Energy and other power companies in the state for their efforts to keep North Dakota clean, green and economically sound.  I think they’re already working on what I imagined above…