North Dakota

Legislation invests in new military facilities in Minot, Grand Forks, Bismarck and Fargo

November 17, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- The U.S. Senate approved an appropriations bill today that includes funding secured by U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad to construct new military facilities in Minot, Grand Forks, Fargo and Bismarck. Dorgan and Conrad said the bill will give a boost to North Dakota’s military missions.    » read more »

November 12, 2009 -- Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), will tour the DMI Industries wind turbine tower manufacturing facility in West Fargo, ND today and participate in a roundtable discussion with North Dakota government officials and industry executives. Bode’s visit will highlight the manufacturing jobs that wind power development creates and the need for comprehensive policy including a strong national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) to ramp up this development and build up a strong manufacturing base.

An RES requires that a growing share of the nation’s electricity be generated from renewable sources.    » read more »

Ashtabula Facility Harnesses Power of Wind to Boost Economy, Senator says

November 13, 2009 -- Luverne – Senator Kent Conrad today met with leaders from Otter Tail Power Company to brief them on the status of Energy legislation in Congress and discuss the importance of North Dakota based wind energy projects.

“North Dakota’s success in the clean-energy economy is exciting. Nowhere is that success more evident than here in Finley where they are harvesting much more than crops. The Ashtabula facility is harvesting the power of the wind to create renewable electricity,” Senator Conrad said.

The new Ashtabula II wind farm consists of 35 turbines with the potential to produce up to 52.5 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 15,000 homes.    » read more »

North Dakota Has Potential to Be Nation's Powerhouse, Conrad says

November 12, 2009 -- Langdon – Senator Kent Conrad today met with management and employees of the Langdon Wind Energy Center and applauded their commitment to generating clean energy and creating jobs in Cavalier County.

“Anyone who has stood on the plains has felt the tremendous force of North Dakota’s winds. The Langdon Wind Energy Center is harnessing this clean, natural energy to power homes throughout the region,” Senator Conrad said. “This project is yet one more example of how we can use North Dakota’s powerful winds to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, keep energy prices affordable, and grow our state’s economy with additional jobs.”    » read more »

November 06, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota Governor John Hoeven today announced that President Obama has approved the state’s request for the federal government to reimburse 90 percent of the eligible costs for public emergency measures, debris removal, and repair of publicly owned infrastructure damaged by the severe storms and flooding last spring. Hoeven requested the increased aid on October 28 when the state’s disaster reimbursements surpassed the threshold for additional federal funding.    » read more »

November 06, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. – In accordance with a directive issued by the President, North Dakota Governor John Hoeven today directed all government agencies in the state to fly the American and North Dakota flags at half staff until Veterans Day in honor of the victims of the Fort Hood shootings. Effective today, the flags are directed to be flown at half staff from sunrise to sunset each day until November 11.    » read more »

Senate Coalition Report Shows Missile Force Crucial to U.S. Security

November 6, 2009 -- Washington – Senators Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Michael Enzi (R-WY) today released a comprehensive study on the importance of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force to America’s national security. The 23 page report, entitled “The Long Pole of the Nuclear Umbrella,” concludes that ICBMs are the most stabilizing part of the nation’s nuclear triad and validates the need to maintain an ICBM force of 450 missiles.    » read more »

Appropriations bill contains $66.3 million for tribal colleges; $4.6 million for UTTC

October 29, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) said today that the $7 million increase in funding for tribal colleges nationwide represents a strong commitment to Native American higher education that will benefit students at tribal colleges in North Dakota.

The Interior Appropriations conference agreement includes $66.3 million for tribally controlled community colleges, which is $7 million more than last year’s level. In addition, the bill includes a provision proposed by the President including $50 million to forward fund tribal colleges so they can better plan for the academic year.    » read more »

Move Will Deliver Needed Boost to North Dakota Producers, Senator says

October 29, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Senator Kent Conrad was joined by North Dakota’s pork producers in cheering a decision today that will allow U.S. pork products to re-enter the Chinese market.

“Pork producers in North Dakota and all across the country have been hurt by the baseless ban of their products in China,” Senators Conrad said. “The decision to reopen this market to trade will benefit pork producers in North Dakota and across the nation.”

Senator Conrad, along with 23 of his colleagues, sent a letter earlier this month calling on the Chinese government to end the ban on American pork and pork products.    » read more »

Bill includes provision to ensure UAVs have access to airspace

October 23, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- A bill that earned final approval in Congress late Thursday will help ensure training programs at UND and other unmanned aerial vehicle programs will be able to access airspace in North Dakota, U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Congressman Earl Pomeroy announced today.

Senator Dorgan drafted the provision, Section 935, of the fiscal year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act that requires the Pentagon and the Department of Transportation to jointly write a plan that would ensure UAVs have access to the national airspace. The Department of Homeland Security, the lead agency for the Customs and Border Protection, will also contribute to the effort.    » read more »

Bill includes funding for Fargo flood study, other critical water projects in the state

October 15, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Congressman Earl Pomeroy announced today that Congress has given final approval to an appropriations bill that will invest in flood control studies for Fargo and communities in the Sheyenne and James river valleys, support energy research projects in North Dakota, and boost efforts to strengthen and expand water systems that serve our rural communities.    » read more »

Bill expands role of GF Nutrition Center, supports other research to help farmers and ranchers

October 9, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- The United States Congress has given final approval to an appropriations bill that includes investments secured by U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Congressman Earl Pomeroy in North Dakota’s agriculture research industry. These critical agriculture and nutrition research projects will give a boost to the state’s economy and help develop new ways for family farmers and ranchers to fight pests and address other problems.    » read more »

October 1, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The annual appropriations bill written by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) containing key investments in North Dakota energy and water projects became one step closer to becoming law today. The bill includes funding that will give a boost to cutting-edge energy research in North Dakota, as well as much-needed flood control and water projects across the state.

Dorgan chairs the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations subcommittee in charge of funding the nation’s energy and water projects. Today the Senate and House conference committee approved the combined bill, which will next go to the House and Senate floors before being signed into law by the President.

Flood Control    » read more »

October 1, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota Governor John Hoeven today extended a welcome and congratulations to the management and employees of Murphy Oil Corp., which earlier today acquired the former VeraSun Ethanol facility in Hankinson, North Dakota. It is the company's first renewable fuels venture.

Gov. Hoeven was informed of the acquisition by Plant Manager Wes Plummer, who said the company had searched extensively for an ethanol plant to acquire and was sold on the Hankinson site because of its outstanding workforce and well-maintained, modern facility. The purchase price was $92 million, and the company plans to invest an additional $15 million in working capital into the facility.    » read more »

Dorgan says Oshkosh CEO is reconsidering decision to close oakes plant; Expects decision in a week to 10 days

July 8, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) is asking the head of Oshkosh Trucking to reconsider the closure of the company’s manufacturing plant in Oakes, N.D., in light of a new $1.06 billion federal contract the company has just received from the Pentagon to build heavy armored vehicles for the Army and Marines.    » read more »