North Dakota – North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong praised President Donald Trump’s announcement of a new energy initiative aimed at addressing the nation’s energy emergency through funding under the Defense Production Act.
The plan includes up to $425 million for the U.S. Department of Energy to support 12 projects focused on expanding and modernizing America’s coal fleet, along with up to $75 million for a coal export facility.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, more than $27.4 million from the funding package will help support a proposed $70 million project to upgrade two coal-fired units at North Dakota’s Antelope Valley Station.
The facility is operated by Basin Electric Power Cooperative near Beulah in Mercer County.
The DOE stated that the upgrades are expected to reduce unplanned outages, improve efficiency, and increase generation capacity while supporting continued affordable and reliable electricity production.
The project is also expected to support local employment at both Antelope Valley Station and the nearby Freedom Mine.
Gov. Armstrong said North Dakota benefits from the lowest electricity rates in the nation and emphasized that investments like these will help maintain a stable and reliable power grid.
He thanked the Trump administration for its support of policies aimed at strengthening U.S. energy production and national energy security.
