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ND coal mines sell 28.7 million tons of lignite in 2015

North Dakota’s four lignite coal mines sold 28.7 million tons of lignite in 2015.

That’s the same amount as in 2014. But it’s a million tons above 2013.

This comes as national reports show coal production dropping.

"The fact that, in North Dakota, coal remained steady is good news for the industry, and also for the state, which relies on taxes from the energy industry," said Steve Van Dyke, a spokesman for the Lignite Energy Council. "Also for counties and schools inj Coal Country."

Van Dyke says North Dakota’s power plants are “mine mouth” – meaning there are very low costs to transport lignite. But he says there are other reasons. Van Dyke says in other parts of the country, coal-fired power plants closed down because it was too costly to retrofit them with pollution control equipment.

"In North Dakota, the utilities have been very diligent in investing in not only environmental upgrades, but also efficiency upgrades," said Van Dyke. "Even though we have plants that are 40 and 50 years old, they don't operate like that."

Van Dyke says the lignite industry is still working on how to respond to the EPA’s new Clean Power Plan --- which would require North Dakota power plants to reduce emissions 45 percent by the year 2030.

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