The chairman of the North Dakota Public Service Commission will testify Wednesday in Washington, DC before a subcommittee of the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Julie Fedorchak said she and North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness will be on a panel to discuss pathways to lower energy prices.
Fedorchak said she’s looking forward to that discussion.
"I'm hoping to provide some good data and information about the sustainability of the current path we're on, in terms of our electricity sector, and the importance to maintain our diverse portfolio," Fedorchak said. "It's one of the important pathways to maintaining lower, or reasonable, energy prices."
Fedorchak said she will also discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling that said the federal Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t have broad authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. She said she considers it the right decision.
"I think that ruling helps support future investment in coal resources," Fedorchak said. "I think it helps states stay in the lead role on a lot of these issues, and helps provide more flexibility for companies to invest in those kinds of dispatchable resources."
Fedorchak said at the same time, work will continue on carbon-capture projects, such as Project Tundra at the Milton R. Young coal plant.