Oil and Minerals

Bowman County rests atop the vast Williston Basin, rich in oil and gas reserves. The county ranks as one of the largest oil and gas producing counties in the state. Millions of dollars have found their way into local economies by way of oil and minerals found within the county borders. The oil industry hit its peak in the late 70's and early 80's, but has been a constant nonetheless, and recently has seen a resurgence in the county.

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Lignite Vision 21

The Industrial Commission is partnering with the Lignite Energy Council on the Lignite Vision 21 Project, a state / industry partnership to encourage construction of the next "state-of-the-art" base-load power plant in North Dakota so that it is available in the 2008-2009 timeframe.

As proposed, the Lignite Vision 21 Project is designed to meet growing regional electrical needs and revitalize the lignite industry. A 500-megawatt power plant results in substantial economic development for North Dakota by producing 3 million more tons of coal, creating 1,300 new jobs and generating an additional $6 million annually in tax revenue.

The Industrial Commission, on April 19, 2001, approved up to $10 million in funding for Great River Energy to also explore the feasibility of a new "Lignite Vision 21" power plant.