Lignite Energy Council Podcast

As electricity demand rises and the focus returns to reliable energy, new projects are creating real dollars for local communities. LEC President Jonathan Fortner explains how coal country is positioned for growth, including new coal plants, expanded mining, and large-load developments like data centers and critical mineral facilities, which could generate up to $11 million annually in local revenue if these projects are built, strengthening budgets, services, and America's energy future.

Alison Ritter has been the executive director of the Western Dakota Energy Association (WDEA), since July 2025, following the retirement of former ED Geoff Simon. WDEA represents counties, cities, and school districts in oil/gas and coal-producing areas, focusing on revenue sharing (gross production tax in lieu of property tax) and policy. In this episode she discusses the synergy between the oil & gas industry and coal, the need for transmission and pipelines, and responsible growth.

Where will the next generation of our industry's workforce come from? How is that pipeline of talent growing? At our 2025 Lignite Energy Council annual conference, I sat down with three people across the spectrum of energy workforce development. Shawn Brink, the North Dakota Energy Education Coordinator, shared his passion for helping middle and high school students find their "ah-ha!" moment. Dr. Daniel Leingang, interim president at Bismarck State College, discussed how programs are being developed and added to meet the industry's evolving needs. And Pat Bertagnolli, Executive Director of Job Service North Dakota, discussed equipping adults with the skills they need to change their careers. We talked about the role of technology in education, how they're dealing with AI and automation, and how they need more involvement from those currently in the energy sector to support their efforts.

The Lignite Energy Council has gone through a lot of change in the past 50 plus years. At the 2025 lignite energy council annual conference, I sat down with MacMcLennan…the CEO and President of Minnkota Power Cooperative, and the outgoing Lignite Energy Council board chair…and Todd Brickhouse, President & General Manager of Basin Electric Power Cooperative…our incoming board chair. Together we discussed the Council's progress over the past year, leadership transitions, and what their vision is for the next chapter of coal.

He could be called the Millennial Mike Rowe. With an eye towards big equipment, a love for moving dirt, and a passion for finding the best of mining practices across the world, Aaron Witt has built his career around the dirt world. In November, he flew to Bismarck, ND straight from Belize to talk to our members at our 2025 annual conference.

Coal is the 5 th largest industry in North Dakota, and provides the dependable, reliable electricity we use every day. Governor Kelly Armstrong talked to our members at the 2025 Lignite Energy Council annual conference about coal's role in powering our state's economic growth.

What does it take to be a leader in your community? Why do those voices matter? How can you add to the conversation? During our annual conference in November, Jonathan Fortner sat down with Ron Ness of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, Arik Spencer of the Greater North Dakota Chamber, and Alison Ritter of the Western Dakota Energy Association, to discuss the challenges of engaging and recruiting the next generation of industry professionals to serve as county commissioners, legislators, and policymakers.

As we kick off 2026, we're looking towards the future of the coal industry this year. What new opportunities are in store, and what's going to be making headlines this year? At our annual conference in November, Mike Holmes of the Lignite Energy Council discussed some of those research & development opportunities with Stacy Tschider, CEO of Rainbow Energy Center, Carroll Dewing, Sr. Vice President and COO of the North American Coal Corporation, and Josh Stanislowski, Director of Energy Systems Development at the EERC. Take a listen and hear what they had to say about emerging markets, critical minerals, data centers, and more.

One of the biggest headline-makers of the past year has been carbon capture and utilization. Let's separate the fact from the fiction, and look at how captured carbon can secure a long-term future for both the lignite industry and the state's oil and gas industry. In November 2025 Mike Holmes, the Lignite Energy Council Executive VP of Research & Development, sat down with Ron Ness, President of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, Charles Gorecki, CEO of the EERC, and Conway Nelson, Director of Carbon Management at Rainbow Energy Center, to explore the role carbon plays in powering industry innovation.

As 2025 comes to a close, we're taking a look back at policy and legislative decisions that impacted the lignite coal industry over the years. What will it take to support positive energy policy going forward? During the 2025 Lignite Energy Council annual conference, Reps. Todd Porter and Anna Novak and Sen. Dale Patten sat down with Jessica Bell, VP of External Affairs at Rainbow Energy Center, to discuss the state's role in advancing coal and energy production.

LEC President & CEO Jonathan Fortner is joined by LEC's Executive Director of Public Engagement Retha Mattern to recap the key federal, state and local developments impacting North Dakota's lignite industry in 2025, reflect on the year's major milestones and discuss how far the industry and the LEC have come over the past year.