Scott Hennen’s conversation with Lignite Energy Council President and CEO Jason Bohrer
NORTH DAKOTA – The coal industry is built for extreme cold like we’re in now according to Lignite Energy Council President and CEO Jason Bohrer.
That includes equipment and providing warmth for workers. Bohrer explains the coal industry has an army of workers in the cold mining so we don’t have to be cold at home.
Bohrer says coal provides nearly 38 percent of electricity for North Dakota, natural gas provides 31 percent and wind is at six-and-a-half-percent. The wind amount can fluctuate.
“Sometimes it’s over 30 percent. When that fluctuates, that can means resources like coal and gas have to be available to pick up the slack. If coal, if gas isn’t available, nobody is picking up that slack. You are as a consumer,” Bohrer said.
The North Dakota coal industry provides 12,000 jobs and $5.5 billion to the state’s economy according to the Lignite Energy Council.
