Dakota Download Governor Burgum's Weekly Update - December 17, 2023

Burgum, Miller reflect on progress and milestones during administration’s seventh year

Gov. Doug Burgum and Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller last week marked the completion of the Burgum administration’s seventh year, reflecting on a year of landmark legislation and milestones that included a record tax relief package, major investments in child care, workforce and infrastructure, and expanded support for law enforcement and the military.

“The historic progress made in the past year reminds us that even the most intractable and seemingly insurmountable challenges can be solved when we work together with the best interests of North Dakota’s incredible citizens at heart,” Burgum said. “These accomplishments are a testament to the innovation by our strong private sector, the hard work of our citizens and the relentless efforts by our state team members who strive every day to empower people, improve lives and inspire success.”

The administration’s seventh year began with Burgum appointing Governor’s Office Chief Operating Officer Tammy Miller to serve as lieutenant governor, succeeding former Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford, who returned to the private sector.

Miller, the former CEO of Fargo-based electrical distributor Border States, officially assumed the role of lieutenant governor on Jan. 3, 2023 – the same day the 68th Legislative Assembly convened for a regular session that would see the passage of several landmark pieces of legislation.

Read the entire press release at the link below.

Governor to deliver 2024 State of the State Address on Jan. 23 in Dickinson

Gov. Burgum will deliver his 2024 State of the State Address at 11 a.m. CT (10 a.m. MT) Jan. 23 at Dickinson State University’s Dorothy Stickney Auditorium.

Burgum applauds $350M DOE grant awarded to Minnkota for carbon capture demonstration project

Gov. Burgum applauded the U.S. Department of Energy’s decision to award a $350 million Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects Program grant to Minnkota Power Cooperative for its proposed carbon capture project at the Milton R. Young Station near Center.

The major DOE grant comes after the North Dakota Industrial Commission, chaired by Burgum, approved a $150 million loan in July for the Minnkota project through the state’s Clean Sustainable Energy Authority. The loan will be furnished by the Bank of North Dakota and is in addition to a similar $100 million loan approved by the Industrial Commission in 2022. The Industrial Commission previously approved $15 million from the state’s Lignite Research Fund to help pay for front-end engineering and design for the CO2 capture project.

“The technology being developed for Minnkota’s project has the potential to be a game-changer for our state, the nation and the world by curbing emissions and ensuring that the reliable, affordable energy we’ve come to expect from coal continues to keep the lights on,” Burgum said. “We’re grateful to the Department of Energy and North Dakota’s congressional delegation for supporting this promising technology, which will benefit consumers, the environment and the coal and oil industries that provide thousands of good-paying jobs and economic development resulting in billions of dollars in tax revenue to our state and local governments. Today’s announcement is another major step toward making this vision a reality with support from the state, feds and industry.”

Miller visits Mandan Holiday Lights display

On Monday evening, Lt. Gov. Miller and her husband, Craig Palmer, visited the Mandan Holiday Lights display in Dykshoorn Park.

Miller toured the holiday lights with Mandan Mayor Tim Helbling, city officials and representatives from Mandan Progress Organization, which hosts the display.

The holiday lights cover Dykshoorn Park on Main Street in Mandan with thousands of lights and are on display each night through Jan. 6 from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Miller visits Coal Creek Station, Rainbow Energy and new Mandan High School

Lt. Gov. Miller last week toured facilities related to energy, career and technical education and workforce.

On Monday, Miller visited the new Mandan High School where an announcement was made of a $1.5 million partnership with Marathon Petroleum on the Heart River CTE Center at the under-construction high school.

Miller visited Coal Creek Station and Rainbow Energy in Underwood on Thursday. The tour included visioning for their energy park and details on how the company and facility are adapting for the next-generation energy future with an all-of-the-above energy approach.

Jamestown High School Band, Choir perform at Pearl Harbor remembrance in Hawaii

The Jamestown High School Band and Choir performed in Hawaii as part of the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 82nd Commemoration ceremony earlier this month.

The Jamestown choir program was honored as the governor's choral program during the 2022-23 school year. This year's choir performed at the Battleship Missouri Memorial and at the opening ceremony for the parade. The band played with the U.S. Marine Band.