Peace Garden News

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak of North Dakota released a statement following President Donald Trump's signing of Executive Orders aimed at boosting the U.S. coal industry and enhancing the nation's energy grid. Fedorchak expressed her support, stating, “Today, President Trump affirmed what North Dakotans have known: coal is reliable, abundant, and essential to American energy dominance."

Fedorchak emphasized the importance of coal, particularly at a time when traditional baseload power sources face shutdowns without adequate replacements. She remarked on the rising electricity demand from AI and data centers and cited coal as a crucial always-available power source. She noted, "With electricity demand from AI and data centers surging, the U.S. urgently needs always-available power—and that’s what coal provides, especially the mine-mouth coal power we produce in North Dakota."

Highlighting North Dakota's achievements in clean coal innovation, Fedorchak praised the state's role in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) and its efforts to reduce emissions while maintaining dependable power. "Our coal industry has been a national leader in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), investing in technologies that cut emissions while delivering dependable, around-the-clock power," she stated.

The Executive Orders signed by President Trump invoke emergency authorities to prevent the shutdown of critical coal-fired power plants and support domestic electricity production. These orders leverage the Federal Power Act to keep essential plants operational and allow utilities to bypass certain costly regulations temporarily.

Fedorchak recently introduced a resolution addressing the urgent threats to America's electric grid's reliability. The resolution warns against the premature shutdown of reliable power sources such as coal and natural gas, citing risks of energy shortages, increased costs, and weakened security. According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's 2024 Long-Term Reliability Assessment, planned retirements of more than 115,000 megawatts (MW) of fossil fuel-fired generation capacity could impact power reserves, particularly in winter when renewable energy is less reliable.

North Dakota's coal industry, with nearly 4,000 MW of coal generation, has been recognized for its environmental stewardship and compliance with EPA standards. The state is considered a national model for providing clean and reliable baseload energy while balancing environmental responsibilities.

Fedorchak continues to advocate for energy reliability solutions and has contributed to discussions on energy policy through various platforms.