In a recent meeting of the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee in North Dakota, key discussions centered around the challenges and future of the state's energy infrastructure, particularly in light of proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Jordan, the deputy director of the Industrial Commission, presented on behalf of the Transmission Authority, emphasizing the critical role of transmission infrastructure in supporting North Dakota's energy needs.

The Transmission Authority, established in 2005, aims to facilitate the development of transmission infrastructure across the state. Jordan highlighted two significant studies completed last year that assess the potential impacts of the EPA's proposed mercury and air toxic standards (MATS) and greenhouse gas regulations on the coal and gas industries. The MATS rule, if enforced, could drastically reduce allowable mercury emissions, potentially crippling the coal sector and leading to rolling blackouts by 2029 due to insufficient peak demand capacity. Similarly, the proposed greenhouse gas regulations could render gas-fired power plants economically unviable, further straining the state's energy resources.

The discussions also touched on the importance of maintaining baseload power generation to ensure grid reliability. Jordan noted that the state is experiencing unprecedented growth in energy demand, with projections indicating a need for significant increases in baseload generation capacity. He urged legislative support for policies that would expedite the development of new baseload generation facilities, particularly in light of the anticipated retirements of existing coal and gas plants.

Additionally, the committee reviewed the annual report on grid resilience, which highlighted the increasing threats posed by public policy to energy reliability. The report emphasized the need for a balanced energy mix and the importance of preparing for extreme weather events that could impact grid stability.

The meeting concluded with a call for continued funding for resilience grants and an increase in the Transmission Authority's budget to support ongoing studies and litigation efforts against potentially harmful regulations. As North Dakota navigates these complex energy challenges, the discussions underscored the critical need for proactive measures to ensure a reliable and resilient energy future for the state.