Energy experts are gathering to figure out how to incorporate renewable and non-renewable energy in the best possible way.
People in the industry say it`s a particularly compelling conference at the Bismarck Civic Center, because it`s bringing so many different types of energy initiatives together.
The people who are working on energy that today say ethanol is a big part of solving energy security problems, but it`s not going to make the type of impact that some people may think it will.
Right now, the EERC says 86 percent of the total energy utilized and produced in this country comes from fossil energy. Even though a lot of money is going into renewables, it doesn`t mean they`re going to replace coal.
"If things continue along the path that they`re on right now, we`ll probably see 20-25 percent of our total energy mix coming from renewables and the rest of it will come from our more traditional sources which are fossil energy," says Gerald Groenewold, of the EERC.
It says it will take a lot of money and infrastructure to get more renewable energy systems online in the state.
"But I think what makes North Dakota unique and a compelling case is that you have the ability to produce both renewable and fossil fuels," says Brian Jennings of the American Coalition for Ethanol. "Not many states in this country can say that."The EERC says water, like on the Missouri River, plays an even bigger role in ethanol and other renewables than people may think. So does North Dakota`s biggest lake.
"What`s the primary reason we have a significant coal, mining, and utility industry in North Dakota," Groenewold says. "It isn`t just because the coal`s here. It`s because the coal is adjacent to Lake Sakakawea which is we hope a reliable source of water for cooling the power plants."
