A study shows power companies serving the Bakken will need to find another 1000 megawatts to serve the continued growth in the area.
The study was done by Bismarck-based Barr Engineering for the North Dakota Transmission Authority.
"I'm quite excited about the results of the study," said Authority director John Weeda. "Most utilities around the country would be excited to have this kind of growth."
Weeda said North Dakota utilities are ready and anxious to meet that need.
Weeda said the study cites a number of factors leading to that load growth.
"It's oil production," Weeda said. "It's the gas processing. It's population, and other industries taht support the oil industry."
Weeda said it's all driven because there is more oil and gas to be had from the Bakken and Three Forks formations.