U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy has released $456,992 in federal funding he secured for a study aimed at determining how North Dakota can increase its oil refining capacity and ensure consumers aren't hurt by fuel shortages in the future.
"We know that North Dakota sits on top of one of the nation's largest oil plays," said Dorgan, D-N.D. "However, we have limited refining capacity in the state, and we've seen in recent years how that can lead to fuel shortages and skyrocketing prices. This study will help us determine what is the best way to increase the refining capacity in North Dakota and protect consumers from those problems in the future."
Dorgan secured the funding through his role as Chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. The panel funds federal energy and water projects around the nation.
With the funding secured by Dorgan, the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) will use its expertise in two critical areas - energy and economic development - to coordinate an independent, third-party study on increased refining capacity for the state. The study will examine the costs and benefits that would be associated with the expansion of refining capacity in the region.
