In addition, two turbines went up near the Minot Air Force Base, which are the result of $500,000 I added to the FY2002 Defense Appropriations bill. The bill directed the Air Force Base to purchase wind-generated electricity at the Minot Air Force Base, the Grand Forks Air Force Base, as well as 6 other bases in the nation. These funds also led to the construction of an additional turbine at the Grand Forks Air Force Base.

In September 2002, Basin Electric and FPL launched an 80-Megawatt wind energy project, the largest project in the Dakotas (40 Megawatts in ND and 40 Megawatts in SD).

I have hosted wind energy conferences for the past few years and have worked with project partners to encourage wind energy development in our State. Last year’s conference had over 700 attendees and I hope my next conference which is March 24, 2003 in Bismarck will be equally as successful. Click here to visit the conference website.

Legislation:

The economic stimulus package which passed March 8, 2002, included a two-year extension of the wind energy Production Tax Credit through December 31, 2003. In February 2003, I introduced legislation (S. 488) to extend the credit for five additional years.

The Senate passed an energy bill last year that included a Renewable Portfolio Standard. Under this provision, most electric generators (excluding cooperatives and municipal facilities) would be required to produce 10 percent of their electricity from renewable energy by the year 2020. I strongly pushed for inclusion of this provision in the bill to help boost wind energy production in our state and the nation.

In addition to serving on the Energy Committee and as Ranking Member of the Water and Power Subcommittee, I also serve as Co-chair of the Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucus, which further enables me to bolster the federal role for renewables.