The Lignite Energy Council held a reception for the 2017 North Dakota legislators at the Municipal Country Club on January 12. The legislators along with legislative staff had a chance to visit with representatives of several mining companies, utilities and contractor/suppliers who are engaged in the lignite industry and discuss legislative priorities.
LEC President and CEO Jason Bohrer visited with Greg O’Shea and Dan Dorfschmidt from Butler Machinery and Carroll Dewing and J.C. Butler from North American Coal Corporation.
Senator Jessica Unruh, Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak, EERC’s John Harju and the LEC’s Tyler Hamman discuss energy bills under consideration.
Great River Energy’s Al Christianson visits Larry Bellew, speaker of the North Dakota House, and Senator Larry Robinson.
Legislators braved the cold temperatures and came out in force for the reception. Bismarck and Minot legislators were talking at this table.
Representative Vern Laning finds the hors d’ouerves to his liking. Vern is a retiree of Basin Electric and formerly was a power plant manager.
This group was “ganging up” on Jay Volk because he wasn’t born in Mercer County like the other three. From left to right are: BNI Coal’s Jay Volk, Montana-Dakota’s Nicole Kivisto, Public Service Commissioner Randy Christmann and BNI Energy’s Wade Boeshans. By the way, Jay was born in Morton County.