Peace Garden News

The North Dakota Industrial Commission has taken steps to support the construction of a new natural gas pipeline. The Commission directed the executive director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority to begin contract talks with WBI Energy Transmission, aiming to purchase transport capacity on the planned pipeline. This move represents a significant financial commitment needed for the project to advance.

In a joint statement, the Commission said, “Today marks a pivotal milestone in the state’s effort to build much-needed natural gas pipeline infrastructure. This project will move abundant natural gas to end users across the state and support the longevity of oil production in North Dakota, which will benefit our economy for generations to come.”

Justin Kringstad, Executive Director of the Pipeline Authority, discussed the importance of this development. “This project is about positioning North Dakota for the future. As natural gas production grows, we need reliable, scalable infrastructure that expands takeaway capacity and connects our resources to new market opportunities,” Kringstad said. “It reflects the collaborative spirit of industry and policymakers working together to responsibly advance our state’s energy future.”

The Industrial Commission acts as the North Dakota Pipeline Authority and has authority to purchase rights to capacity in pipeline systems that help with producing, transporting, distributing or delivering energy commodities produced in North Dakota. Senate Bill 2014 from the 69th Legislative Assembly broadened how funds can be used for purchasing pipeline capacity and allowed up to $100 million per biennium for these purposes.

The Industrial Commission includes Gov. Kelly Armstrong as Chairman, Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring.