North Dakota’s Pipeline Authority director says there’s been a lot of interest from companies interested in building a natural gas pipeline from the Bakken to Central and Eastern North Dakota.
The Legislature – in special session – set aside $150 million in seed money for such a pipeline. $10 million of that is for a temporary connection between Grand Forks and the Viking Pipeline in Minnesota, to help provide gas to a proposed corn milling facility.
Pipeline Authority Director Justin Kringstad said there are some questions to be answered.
"How will this play out?" Kringstad said. "What will the application process look like? What are the timelines? What are the expectations for those applying for those grants?"
Kringstad said there are a number of companies capable of providing that service.
"They're going to have to come up with an appropriate method, under the Industrial Commission, to get that process ironed out,' Kringstad said.
The state’s Industrial Commission — which consists of Gov. Doug Burgum, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem — meets Nov. 29, and Kringstad said he hopes the Commission will be able to adopt guidelines for that pipeline money.
Funding comes from the federal American Recovery Plan Act, or ARPA.