WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after President Donald J. Trump released a $700 million plan to support the nation’s coal producers, including $27 million to modernize Basin Electric Cooperative’s Antelope Station, improving efficiency and increasing generation capacity. The funding is being made available under the Defense Production Act to ensure the nation can meet growing demand for power and to strengthen the long-term resiliency of the U.S. coal industry. To this end, the funds will be used to make upgrades to existing coal plants, help finance two new coal plants and support the construction of a coal export terminal on the West Coast.
“Coal is available 24/7, regardless of weather, providing an affordable and reliable source of electricity that can ramp up to meet demand and ensure power is available when we need it most. Today’s announcement, which includes $27 million for upgrades at Antelope Station in North Dakota, is a welcome step to support the continued resiliency of our coal producers and ensure their facilities and infrastructure can meet the growing demands on our grid,” said Senator Hoeven. “This aligns with our Crack the Code 2.0 initiative, where we are working to double the life of our coal plants while also doubling oil recovery in the Bakken. Through efforts like these, combined with the regulatory relief we’ve advanced for our energy industry, we are working to make the U.S. truly energy dominant.”
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