Behind global warming issues are social issues, including how and when Americans can come to satisfactory agreements on how to use our energy resources. 

North Dakota has great potential for renewable resources and a vast reserve of fossil fuels.  Defining–and perhaps combining–our viewpoints may be crucial to our ability to produce and export excess energy to other states.

A short video clip posted on the web yesterday shows Mindi Grieve, government relations specialist with North Dakota’s Enviromental Law and Policy Center, discussing some of the clean energy happenings in North Dakota.

“There are many opportunities in North Dakota,” Grieve said in the video.  “We have great wind power potential.  Developers have announced several projects throughout the state.  I see the ELPC working with developers, landowners and policy makers to enhance that industry.  I also think we have the opportunity to influence clean energy legislation as well as global warming solutions with the work with the congressional delegation.” 

Grieve said the ELPC in North Dakota is working to bridge the gap between environmental communities and fossil fuel industries so that the North Dakota congressional delegation can vote for global warming solutions in the next congressional session. 

While bridges can sometimes mean compromise, it sounds like a good idea for North Dakota.  While new oil wells and new wind farms are already being built across the state, connecting our renewable and fossil fuel energy resources could mean an even greater economic leap in the energy industry.