New Report Reveals Renewable Energy is Taking Off in North Dakota

The newly released Clean Power Annual from the American Clean Power Association reveals that renewable energy in North Dakota is on the rise, ranking among the top five states in the nation for the share of electricity generated by renewable energy at 30 percent. This report shows how businesses, consumers, farmers, and local communities across the state benefit from providing a welcoming environment for renewable energy development.

Total capital investment in renewable energy swelled to nearly $7.5 billion last year, with renewable projects bringing in $6 million in state and local tax revenue and supporting more than 2,000 jobs throughout North Dakota. As the nation works to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, renewable energy provides an opportunity for the state to get back to work.

Renewable energy also supports the state’s robust agriculture sector. Annual land lease payments grew to more than $12.5 million in 2020, providing a stable source of income for farmers and ranchers in the face of unpredictable weather and harvest conditions. Economic benefits supported by renewable energy reveal the importance of nurturing a robust renewable energy sector in North Dakota that will continue to provide economic prosperity.

“Renewable energy has been a tremendous boon for local communities across our state and has brought many new benefits to rural residents,” explains Dennis Lindahl, Community Development Director for the Tioga Economic Development Corporation. “By developing renewable energy in local communities, those areas can benefit from new tax revenue to fund local governments and services, new revenue sources for local landowners, and new investments in local businesses to grow the local economy.”

“North Dakota has seen strong growth in the development of renewable energy and has been a strong partner in our energy industry,” said Brad Barth, Executive Director of the Forward Devils Lake Corporation. “Through further development of renewables, North Dakota can continue to be a national leader in the energy sector and bring new benefits to North Dakotans.”

Powering North Dakota, an initiative of the American Clean Power Association, is a statewide coalition of business and community leaders who support practical policies that expand wind and solar energy growth.