Cross-posted from Dakota Lifestyle:  Beyond the Weather.  Links available in original post.

According to this KX News article, Tim Mathern, the Democratic Candidate for Governor in North Dakota, wants to see significantly more wind energy development and more transmission lines.  Don Larson, campaign manager for the current Governor John Hoeven, said under Hoeven the state is developing wind power and has created the Transmission Authority to address energy transmission issues.

Transmission may be a problem for a few years, but the transmission authority is aready working in partnership with lignite coal development to build new lines.  I have confidence that the state and the ND people will find ways to export our growing wind energy production to the coasts and other areas that might be short on their own energy supplies.

The great thing about this is that developing wind energy is already picking up pace in North Dakota.  According to a press release issued from Gov. Hoeven’s office today, the state had less than 1/2 megawatt of wind energy production four years ago.  New projects built or being built will bring us to 2,500 megawatts, with more projects coming.

The press release covers all ND areas of energy as a source of economic development, including wind energy production, ethanol and biodiesel, hydrogen, petroleum, natural gas, and clean coal technology.  It was presented by Gov. Hoeven at the T. Boone Pickens Event in Fargo, North Dakota as a way to highlight our progress in the energy industry.

One thing I learned, from the press release:

North Dakota is home to the nation’s only federally designated Center for Hydrogen Technology, our nation’s leader in hydrogen research and development. It’s a N.D. Center of Excellence.