Congressional delegation announces federal funding to strengthen North Dakota electrical grid

U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Congressman Earl Pomeroy announced today that the state of North Dakota will receive $766,350 in federal funding to help boost expansion of North Dakota's electricity transmission grid – a key step toward expansion of the state's energy industry.

The funding, which comes through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will be used by the North Dakota Public Service Commission to employ and train workers to help speed up the review process for new electricity utility projects in the state. That action will give a boost to efforts to expand and modernize the electrical grid in North Dakota, safeguard service for consumers and allow the state to take advantage of its ability to produce electricity from coal, wind and other resources. The PSC is a regulatory agency that oversees North Dakota utilities.

Electricity projects in North Dakota are expected to increase as more Recovery Act money is injected into states. Specific projects will include building transmission lines, carbon capture and storage, energy efficiency, energy storage, renewable energy, and smart grid technology.

“This funding will give a boost to our state’s energy industry and create good-paying, energy-related jobs,” said the delegation in a joint statement. “North Dakota’s energy industry is on the move, and this federal investment will help expand on the success.”

The funding was distributed by the U.S. Department of Energy with funds appropriated by Congress.