North Dakota power company getting $100M in federal stimulus

North Dakota-based Basin Electric Power Cooperative will get $100 million in federal stimulus money to capture carbon dioxide emissions.

Federal Energy Secretary Steven Chu made the announcement Wednesday in Bismarck. Chu said he wants to send a clear signal about the importance of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from coal fired power plants.

"Once you send a clear signal to industry, and both the republicans and democrats get behind this, something magical happens," Chu said. "As soon as both parties get behind this the lobbyists have nowhere to go and they assign it to the engineers and the engineers solve it."

Basin Electric says the project goal is to remove 90 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions at it's Antelope Valley power plant in western North Dakota.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.