Energy challenge is North Dakota's great opportunity

Fifty-seven members of the North Dakota Renewable Energy Partnership (ndrep.org) represent a broad range of industries like Xcel Energy, Cass County Electric, Great River Energy, Ottertail Power, Soy Bean Growers, Corn Growers, regional economic development agencies, and state agencies like the ND Department of Renewable Energy and Efficiency. They all had input on developing renewable enrgy bill. Other industry experts that are not members, like John Dwyer of the Lignite Council, have been helpful in supporting #2288 and #1515, renewable energy bills that would help our state invest in the development of sustainable, home grown, renewable energy.

Producing more renewable energy will also help our state's fossil fuel industry by helping extend those non-renewable energy sources, adding renewables to fossil fuels often helps non-renewable energy sources burn cleaner, and it helps make them more marketable at a higher value.

Developing all our energy resources to their full potential in the most responsible, efficient and sustainable manner is North Dakota's great opportunity to help resolve the United States energy challenge and grow and diversify our state's revenues.

A recent survey showed 93 percent of North Dakotans (http://ndrep.org) want more state funding for home grown, renewable energy.

Please consider that one way to diversify our funding sources for vital sectors like education, human services and water, is to make significant state investments now for developing North Dakota's unmatched biomass and renewable energy resources.Biomass to biofuels does not use food for energy conversion and is among the fastest growing energy sectors in the country.

We have a fantastic opportunity this session, to invest now to diversify our energy resources and economy. Diversifying North Dakota energy development to its full potential could generate the sustainable funds to resolve our property tax problem, fund our challenges in demographics for human services along with more funds for water management and delivery.

Tennessee has budgeted a $61 million investment in biomass and cellulosic research
(http://www.areavoices.com/renewnd/). Many other states are investing as much or more, though they don't have as good of resources as ours here in North Dakota.

Please help restore funding for #2288 by contacting our North Dakota legislators this week. The appropriation for a $20 million investment in North Dakota's future is less than 4 percent of the current surplus.

As North Dakota native General Chuck Wald stated at a recent energy roundtable session, the United States energy challenge is North Dakota's great opportunity.Mike WilliamsBoard member of the North Dakota Renewable PartnershipFargo, N.D.