North Dakota is poised to lead the world in reducing global warming pollution, while increasing farm income, boosting our energy industry and creating new jobs.

New Technologies

Our state has the world's first commercial-scale coal plant that captures much of its emitted carbon dioxide and sends it underground. We also have one of the nation's leading rsearch centers for developing the promise of hydrogen power.

A Biofuels Boom

North Dakota is already a major source of corn-based ethanol, but new breakthroughs will allow the fuel to be made from cornstalks, switchgrass, even garbage and manure. This "cellulosic" ethanol requires less energy to produce, meaning lower costs for farmers and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Improving Efficiency

The city of Fargo has made major energy-saving moves which lower carbon dioxide emissions. Many businesses and homeowners also are switching to compact fluorescent lights and choosing more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Carbon Trading

The North Dakota Farmers Union has taken the lead in promoting a new "carbon credits" trading system that boosts farm income while "sequestering" carbon dioxide through no-till practices and grass seeding.

Learn how a cap-and-trade program works.

Harnessing the Wind

No state can match North Dakota's potential for wind power, and electric utilities, farmers and rural communities are on the move to make it a reality. There's great potential here also for other renewable energy sources such as solar power.