North Dakota § 54-17.5-01 Declaration of findings and public purpose

North Dakota Statutes

§ 54-17.5-01 — Declaration of findings and public purpose

North Dakota § 54-17.5-01

Title 54State Government

Ch. 54-17.5Lignite Research, Development and Marketing

This text of North Dakota § 54-17.5-01 (Declaration of findings and public purpose) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

N.D. Cent. Code § 54-17.5-01 (2026).

Text

The legislative assembly finds and declares that North Dakota's lignite industry produces
approximately twenty-five million tons of lignite annually, contributing to our state's and nation's
energy independence by generating electricity for more than two million people in the northern
great plains region and by producing synthetic natural gas from coal that heats three hundred
thousand homes and businesses in eastern states, which is equivalent to over twenty thousand
barrels of oil per day. The legislative assembly further finds and declares that North Dakota's
lignite industry generates over twelve thousand direct and indirect jobs for North Dakota, nearly
six billion dollars in annual business volume, and over one hundred million dollars in annual tax
revenue. The legislative assembly f

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

The legislative assembly finds and declares that North Dakota's lignite industry produces
approximately twenty-five million tons of lignite annually, contributing to our state's and nation's
energy independence by generating electricity for more than two million people in the northern
great plains region and by producing synthetic natural gas from coal that heats three hundred
thousand homes and businesses in eastern states, which is equivalent to over twenty thousand
barrels of oil per day. The legislative assembly further finds and declares that North Dakota's
lignite industry generates over twelve thousand direct and indirect jobs for North Dakota, nearly
six billion dollars in annual business volume, and over one hundred million dollars in annual tax
revenue. The legislative assembly further finds and declares that it is an essential governmental
function and public purpose to assist with the development and wise use of North Dakota's vast
lignite resources by supporting a lignite research, development, and marketing program that
promotes economic, efficient, and clean uses of lignite and products derived from lignite in order
to maintain and enhance development of North Dakota lignite and its products; support
educational activities relating to the lignite industry; preserve and create jobs involved in the
production and utilization of North Dakota lignite; ensure economic stability, growth, and
opportunity in the lignite industry; defend through litigation activities the production, use, and
continued development of lignite as a vital state natural resource; and maintain a stable and
competitive tax base for our state's lignite industry for the general welfare of North Dakota. The
legislative assembly further finds and declares that development of North Dakota's lignite
resources must be conducted in an environmentally sound manner that protects our state's air,
water, and soil resources as specified by applicable federal and state law.