[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6100940,"mediaKeyId","2810846-437e244a9d3c2a01689597c655ae0508","parentId",2810846,"title","Committee holds data‑center grid study, considers Legacy Fund in‑state investment language for later action","audioSeconds",2250,"startMs",1745000,"endMs",3995000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2810846-437e244a9d3c2a01689597c655ae0508&start=1745&end=3995","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2810846-437e244a9d3c2a01689597c655ae0508/thumbnail_1745000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100940/North-Dakota/Committee-holds-datacenter-grid-study-considers-Legacy-Fund-instate-investment-language-for-later-action","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100940-78f0f631f09ab19ed44d21eb1c28d994/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447946&Signature=PWrsoKN0q-MR359kgTtsz8VHcWJHGJbciFXw2mLE9FDnnklSzEFvuA9izt6yrEBn2uJg5RJZlUypSmk4mzcU6ERPQB2WU8hBI04V-7gz0tZLG280KDUrxHErUzhgac7qpqd3Jk4Yn1AQk9SWdgufxVYdtOnO1ZbMewqtAys3ApHpdKPS9-opSe2HSCkh2mR-E789R9YpolZ5lv6oopPCnRwvfJ4np3HckRZk2yf4gM2jpf3RDT2HFLY3R6NJ-ZmIs923r0bBKrOs3oa5TN9mvWoY8WgSp6sk7GAGGOZemXwiwqk18xGqOo6RvZemqiBdeApivC40nC3w5BKLhMKf3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota Legislature","date","2025-03-28T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Anna Novak, sponsor of amended House Bill 15‑79, asked the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to approve an interim study on the impacts of large energy consumers — particularly data centers — on the state's electrical grid. The bill as amended also includes language requested by the Retirement and Investment Office to allow consideration of large in‑state infrastructure investments by the state's Legacy Fund advisory bodies. The committee took testimony, discussed pending related legislation, and decided to hold the bill until next week for further consideration.

Novak said data centers are large, power‑intensive facilities (often 100–300 megawatts) that require extremely high reliability and cannot tolerate blackouts. She described potential benefits for North Dakota — property tax revenue and high‑paying jobs — and said the proposed study aims to balance welcoming investment while protecting ratepayers and grid reliability during extreme weather. \"It is of extreme importance that the legislature does everything that we can to protect North Dakotans from energy shortages,\" Novak said.

Jody Smith, interim executive director for the Retirement and Investment Office, described the Legacy Fund background and how the in‑state investment program (established in 2021) has committed more than $450 million to over 40 North Dakota companies through a mix of loans and equity. Smith said the Legacy Fund holds approximately $12.1 billion as of January and that statute and advisory board policy currently require diversification under a prudent investor rule; the amendment would permit discussion and limited authority to invest in large‑scale in‑state infrastructure projects — potentially as loans or equity — if the board reasonably determines special circumstances justify less diversification.

Martin Vega, director of community operations for Applied Digital, and representatives of the data‑center coalition, supported the study. Vega said Applied Digital has invested in North Dakota and expects to create hundreds of full‑time jobs when campuses are complete; he described roles such as facility technicians, engineers, security, and operations staff and estimated a campus could employ 300–350 full‑time positions, paid well above local averages.

Kelvin Hollitz of the Bank of North Dakota and other witnesses described financing models already in use, including the Bank's MATCH loan program and the infrastructure revolving loan fund. Hollitz and Smith explained how the Bank and State Investment Board can structure fixed‑income purchases or loans and partner on packaging investments into the Legacy Fund's in‑state allocation.

Committee members questioned whether specific entities named in the study language (for example the Lignite Energy Council and Petroleum Council) should be included or removed; Representative Novak said the interim committee could invite additional stakeholders. Senators also raised the question of whether further regulation beyond study would be needed after information is gathered and whether legacy fund language duplicates a separate bill (House Bill 1330). Chair Patton said the committee would hold the bill until next week to await developments on the related bill and to allow follow‑up on amendment language and fiscal questions.

No committee vote was taken on House Bill 15‑79 at this hearing; Chair Patton said the committee would revisit the bill next week.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Energy and Natural Resources Mar 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Anna Novak asked the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to authorize a study of how large energy consumers — especially data centers — affect North Dakota's electrical grid and to allow the Legacy Fund's advisory bodies to explore in‑state infrastructure investments; the committee took testimony and opted to hold the bill for further review.","taxTitle","Energy and Natural Resources, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28903,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6100945,"Committee advances bill to base nonresident mule deer archery licenses on current-year counts",439,1936000,1497000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2810846-437e244a9d3c2a01689597c655ae0508&start=1936&end=1497","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2810846-437e244a9d3c2a01689597c655ae0508/thumbnail_1936000.jpg","/articles/6100945/North-Dakota/Committee-advances-bill-to-base-nonresident-mule-deer-archery-licenses-on-current-year-counts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100945-fd4aeac3cead86d9210a8a7d605fdb5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447946&Signature=QR3nVQAzJEzTDu5srnUNKWIiGCUAocZV2DkKJO0Y0iEJ9yrDWZ2ZgQwL-TIJsVooyGE5qeyV6goAXEcAQXFomvTxKZWHQRhX6~6lAZi5O17aZyaitz0G-Bqq2F~jEbmSJQbET07ZPolxxWN5W0BNJqHAF5scyNfOVU2WqCVxGLmbk3ts3SJlRBjiAM5kHAeTO5NxnGSZlfj781FxyBmflHHUnkSaYXVHN7VZyUN3~7Ot~l8qyWvI1oJheHszxTxUdE--wk0xweBXMlFWGRRIEb8AZNdJGK7xqKNClwAaeG3avIcEweAFwOO1uSZ1HcphS0mEY0kIrhn81~U-T5c7wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Lori Beth Hager, R-Fargo, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department urged the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to revise state law so nonresident mule deer archery license allocations are based on the current year's mule deer population count. The committee voted to give House Bill 12‑60 a \"do pass\" recommendation on a 7‑0 voice vote.

Supporters said the current statute ties nonresident archery license allocations to the preceding year's mule deer gun tag allocation, which can misalign permits with current population conditions. \"When the mule deer count is taken from a harsh winter, that results in lowering the mule deer population, but the number of deer licenses is based on the previous year,\" Representative Lori Beth Hager said. She asked the committee for a green vote on the bill.

Bill Hawes, assistant wildlife division chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, testified the change was introduced at the department's request to improve biological management and reduce hunting pressure in the Badlands. Hawes described a working group convened by the department and said the group and a follow‑up hunter survey supported the change. \"In 2023 the department issued 862 nonresident any deer licenses following the harsh winter of '22; in reality, if we would have used current license allocations, it should have been 3,307,\" Hawes said, as an example of how prior‑year baselines can produce allocations out of step with current population measures.

Hawes explained that mule deer are monitored primarily through aerial surveys conducted in spring and fall (when visibility is best), and that gun tag allocations for mule deer currently are adjusted each year based on the most recent data. He also said resident archery licenses remain over‑the‑counter and are not subject to the same allocation limits. Supporters including John Bradley of the North Dakota Wildlife Federation and Brock Wall of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers endorsed the change as a straightforward fix that aligns nonresident archery allocations with other tags and the best available population data.

Senators asked about the composition of the department's working group and the scope of survey work. Hawes said the working group was intentionally small — roughly four to five participants including advisory board members, landowners and representatives of hunting organizations — and that the department also hired a third party that surveyed about 10,000 hunters to inform recommendations.

Senator Gearhart moved a \"do pass\" recommendation on House Bill 12‑60; Senator Beard seconded. The clerk recorded 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent; the motion passed.

The committee closed the hearing on House Bill 12‑60 and advanced the measure to the next stage with the committee's recommendation.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 12‑60 — Change nonresident mule deer archery license allocations to use current‑year mule deer counts; mover: Senator Gearhart; second: Senator Beard; committee vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent; outcome: do pass recommendation.","Representative Lori Beth Hager and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department urged the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to change state law so nonresident mule deer archery license allocations use the current year's mule deer population count rather than the previous year's; the committee voted 7‑0 to recommend the bill.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee holds data‑center grid study, considers Legacy Fund in‑state investment language for later action

Committee advances bill to base nonresident mule deer archery licenses on current-year counts