Truth – North Dakota has been recognized for decades as a dominant coal state.
Nearly all of our LIUNA Local 563 members have worked in North Dakota's coal plants; but if you ask them what kind of energy development our state needs, they'll tell you "all of the above.” Our members overwhelmingly support projects that put local people to work. Whether it's coal, gas, nuclear, wind and solar or the next technology that is awaiting invention, we want to be on the ground floor of constructing it nationwide.
We are not anti-coal – on the contrary. Our workforce is terrified at the trends happening in the state, because many of our long-standing members have spent their entire union career based in coal. However, we are preparing for future announcements and continued growth in renewables.
Tony Clark’s June 17 opinion piece nailed it on the wind, coal and natural gas issues. There are multiple factors leading to coal’s decline. Electric customers nationwide are demanding, not just requesting, more renewables. Natural gas competition has also put a major dent in coal-fired generation.
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Wind has been given a leg-up with federal subsidies that should have already gone away. What if all subsidies for every type of energy production are ended? Yes, there are coal subsidies, as well as money kicked into solar, natural gas, hydro and geothermal. According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, the U.S. Government hands out $20 billion in annual subsidies to fossil fuels, of which $4 billion goes to the coal industry. I’d personally like to see all subsidies go away and see how the market plays out.
As Clark mentioned, private landowner rights – fiercely important in this state – should be weighed heavily by county leaders. Mercer County landowners who are wind proponents are making their voices heard, coming out against the county’s two-year wind moratorium. More landowners will begin to fight back and rightfully should.
Lastly, I read across social media people asking North Dakota to buy Coal Creek Station. “We have a state bank and a state mill, why can’t we own a power plant?” North Dakota’s bank and mill were created to give the state’s farmers a leg up against the Minneapolis grain market dominance. North Dakota is very different today, and our elected leaders should think long and hard before investing billions of taxpayer dollars to make sure it’s money well spent.
Wind, solar and natural gas-powered electricity demands will continue to rise worldwide. Within a decade, I expect extensive technology advancements in power storage.
Great River Energy has been solid partners for LIUNA and its members. We plan to support all their generation building efforts because it will mean continued high-paying jobs to support families and communities.
Cortina is an organizer with LiUNA Great Lakes Organizing Committee and a LiUNA Local 563 member.
