Who are we and where are we going?

…In the coming permanent world energy crisis, North Dakota is going to be one North American locus of intense industrial activity. We have abundant lignite coal reserves, and what is regarded as plenty of water to process that coal. That means liquefaction and gasification, and more coal-fired power generation plants.

We have oodles of wind. There may be a lot more oil in the Williston Basin than anyone knew. How do you extract it? You thrust new roads into remote places, drill deep and at a slant, and then pipe or truck the thick crude somewhere else.


Ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen and other emerging energy technologies will dot the landscape.

In the 1970s, led by agrarian Gov. Art Link, North Dakotans decided they preferred to engage in moderate and restrained energy development rather than the more enthusiastic variety in Montana and Wyoming. In other words, we decided that we wished to remain primarily a farm state with a subordinate energy industry. Do we have that option this time around? How about the political will?

Bismarck Tribune