(The Center Square) – The Department of Energy is adding $700 million to a $3.6 billion project that will boost the electrical energy supply for North Dakota and Montana.
The funding from DOE’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Program will go toward a 3,000-megawatt High-Voltage Direct Current Voltage Source Converter transmission line from Center, N.D., to Colstrip, Mont., according to North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
The project will increase transfer capacity by 1,400% between three regional entities and add 3,800 megawatts of new capacity, according to a news release from Burgum’s office.
The North Dakota Industrial Commission, which includes Burgum, Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, backed the project funding application.
“Because North Dakota exports over 30% of energy it produces in the state, the Authority recognizes the critical need for transmission expansion to provide additional export capacity, the commission said in a letter to the DOE. “By developing a high voltage direct current transmission line between North Dakota and Montana, the Project will connect the U.S. eastern and western electric grids. As a critical link between regions, the Project will position North Dakota for continued commercial growth and will help to provide an affordable and reliable grid to service existing and future loads across multiple regions.”
Burgum said he was grateful for the project, but more needed to be done.
“Still, in order to meet growing consumer demand for electricity and support economic expansion, we need to add transmission capacity AND build upon our existing baseload generation – not try to shut it down,” Burgum said in a news release.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said a steady supply of energy is crucial to Montana and the country.
“Through this investment, we’re upgrading and modernizing Montana’s electrical transmission infrastructure to power our homes, schools and businesses,” Gianforte said.