701-566-9300In their December meeting, the Energy Development and Transmission Committee heard testimony from many quarters on the discussion surrounding natural gas. Their interim study involves getting natural gas to underserved/unserved communities in our state. There has been money set aside for a couple years now incentivizing pipeline companies to build across the northern tier of North Dakota to deliver east. There have been no takers given that the $100 million incentive is admittedly something but the cost to build would be well over $1 billion. Justin Kringstad of the ND Pipeline Authority reminded legislators that over 80% of our natural gas leaves via the Northern Border pipeline which originates in Canada. He also mentioned that there are a couple of projects in the works to deliver our gas to the Cheyenne, Wyoming, hub for distribution. You may be aware that we are currently flaring around 5% of our product and with gas volumes increasing for the next decades we need to work at utilizing/exporting. Given the economic opportunities which exist when communities when natural gas is present, the committee continues trying to learn as much as possible to help with decision making on this topic.
It was interesting to hear Kringstad speak of a 10-year Canadian project to move their crude/natural gas across the Rockies to the west. Because the Canadian tar sands product has been difficult to market, they have come up with a blended product lately which competes with our ND light, sweet Bakken crude. Overall, it is a complex transmission and marketing discussion which you can view online here if you wish details. I know that the arrival of natural gas in my Traill county area has helped institutions save money on heating and manufacturing and hope that your community, if needy, can capture some of our energy in natural gas form. Remember to let your legislators know that the need is out there.
Also, our Township friends are asking all townships to fill out a survey on cost for maintaining their roads in an effort to increase funding. Click here if you serve on a township board or would like to make sure yours has done it.
