Summary — HCR 3017 (Sixty‑ninth Legislative Assembly, North Dakota)
Status: Concurrent resolution — introduced Jan 30, 2025; adopted by the Legislature and filed with the Secretary of State March 21, 2025.
Sponsors: Representatives Novak, D. Anderson, Dockter, J. Olson, S. Olson, Porter, Tveit; Senators Kessel, Patten, Boehm.
Purpose
- To recognize December 6th annually as "Miner's Day" in North Dakota to honor coal miners.
- To formally urge the federal government to adopt policies and regulations favorable to North Dakota’s lignite coal industry (including requests to review/repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding) and to expand federal partnership on coal‑related technology and critical mineral development.
Key provisions and declarations
- Formal recognition: Declares December 6 “Miner’s Day” to honor coal miners’ contributions to energy reliability, economic growth, and regional energy security.
- Economic and energy findings cited:
- North Dakota lignite industry: > $5.5 billion in total business activity; ~12,000 employees; ~$100 million in tax revenue.
- Lignite supplies ~55% of the state’s electricity, serving “more than 2 million” families/businesses in the upper Midwest.
- Average residential electricity rate cited as 11.44¢/kWh (2025), ranked second‑lowest nationally.
- State estimate of an ~800‑year economically recoverable lignite supply.
- Studies noting concentrations of rare earth elements in lignite, with some samples exceeding 300 ppm (DOE economic extraction threshold).
- Technology and development emphasis: Supports value‑added uses (activated carbon, synthetic graphite, critical mineral extraction, advanced materials) and carbon capture utilization (products such as fertilizers, industrial chemicals, enhanced oil recovery, low‑carbon fuels).
- Federal policy requests:
- Urges federal government to refrain from rules that would jeopardize reliability/affordability of electric power in ND.
- Urges review and repeal of the 2009 Endangerment Finding regarding greenhouse gases.
- Calls for federal policy adjustments to level the competitive field among energy sources and to encourage collaboration with North Dakota and the lignite industry on technology, critical minerals, and carbon capture.
- Transmission: Directs the Secretary of State to forward the resolution to the U.S. President (administration), EPA Administrator, DOE Secretary, Interior Secretary, and each member of North Dakota’s congressional delegation.
Who is affected / potential impact
- Primary subject: Coal miners and the lignite coal industry (economic recognition and advocacy).
- Broader: State energy policy messaging to federal agencies; potential influence on federal rulemaking discourse (symbolic and persuasive, not legally binding).
- No direct regulatory or funding changes by the state — the resolution is non‑binding and serves as an official statement urging federal action and recognizing workers.
Legislative actions & timeline highlights
- Introduced Jan 30, 2025; referred to Energy & Natural Resources Committee (multiple hearings Feb–Mar 2025).
- House recorded votes/committee reports: reported back do pass (13–0–0), House adopted (yeas 84, nays 5) on Feb 18, 2025; second reading adopted Mar 14, 2025.
- Signed by legislative leadership (Speaker and Senate President) and filed with Secretary of State on Mar 21, 2025.
Limitations
- As a concurrent resolution, HCR 3017 expresses legislative sentiment and makes requests to federal actors but does not change state law, appropriate funds, or directly alter federal regulations.
