Lignite Energy Council Podcast

Lignite Energy Council
  • 3.7 (3)
  • CHEMISTRY

Fueling the Future - Inside North Dakota's Coal Industry

  1. 13H AGO

    Political Perspectives from Industry Leaders

    What does it take to be a leader in your community? Why do those voices matter? How can you add to the conversation? During our annual conference in November, Jonathan Fortner sat down with Ron Ness of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, Arik Spencer of the Greater North Dakota Chamber, and Alison Ritter of the Western Dakota Energy Association, to discuss the challenges of engaging and recruiting the next generation of industry professionals to serve as county commissioners, legislators, and policymakers.

    37 min

  2. JAN 5

    Future Opportunities for the Lignite Industry

    As we kick off 2026, we're looking towards the future of the coal industry this year. What new opportunities are in store, and what's going to be making headlines this year? At our annual conference in November, Mike Holmes of the Lignite Energy Council discussed some of those research & development opportunities with Stacy Tschider, CEO of Rainbow Energy Center, Carroll Dewing, Sr. Vice President and COO of the North American Coal Corporation, and Josh Stanislowski, Director of Energy Systems Development at the EERC. Take a listen and hear what they had to say about emerging markets, critical minerals, data centers, and more.

    55 min

  3. 12/31/2025

    CO₂as a Commodity: Turning a Challenge into Opportunity

    One of the biggest headline-makers of the past year has been carbon capture and utilization. Let's separate the fact from the fiction, and look at how captured carbon can secure a long-term future for both the lignite industry and the state's oil and gas industry. In November 2025 Mike Holmes, the Lignite Energy Council Executive VP of Research & Development, sat down with Ron Ness, President of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, Charles Gorecki, CEO of the EERC, and Conway Nelson, Director of Carbon Management at Rainbow Energy Center, to explore the role carbon plays in powering industry innovation.

    54 min

  4. 12/26/2025

    Legislators' Role in Powering Production

    As 2025 comes to a close, we're taking a look back at policy and legislative decisions that impacted the lignite coal industry over the years. What will it take to support positive energy policy going forward? During the 2025 Lignite Energy Council annual conference, Reps. Todd Porter and Anna Novak and Sen. Dale Patten sat down with Jessica Bell, VP of External Affairs at Rainbow Energy Center, to discuss the state's role in advancing coal and energy production.

    1h 6m

  5. 12/19/2025

    Year in Review 2025

    LEC President & CEO Jonathan Fortner is joined by LEC's Executive Director of Public Engagement Retha Mattern to recap the key federal, state and local developments impacting North Dakota's lignite industry in 2025, reflect on the year's major milestones and discuss how far the industry and the LEC have come over the past year.

    1h 3m

  6. 04/18/2025

    North Dakota State Senator Dale Patten

    North Dakota State Senator Dale Patten joins the podcast to share his insights on the future of North Dakota's energy industry and his perspective as a key policymaker in the legislature. Topics include coal, critical minerals, CO₂ pipelines, and balancing growth with landowner rights.

    52 min

  7. 03/12/2025

    Mac McLennan, CEO of Minnkota Power Cooperative

    In this episode of the LEC Podcast, we talk with Minnkota Power CEO Mac McLennan about energy policy, carbon capture, and the future of coal in North Dakota. With decades of experience, McLennan shares insights on industry challenges, regulatory shifts, and economic opportunities.

    54 min

  8. 02/20/2025

    Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND)

    In this episode, we sit down with Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, North Dakota's newest member of the federal delegation. She shares insights from her first two months in Washington, D.C., discussing her work on energy policy, protecting North Dakota's natural resources, and advocating for a reliable electric grid. Tune in to hear her perspective on the challenges and opportunities ahead for the state and the nation.

    53 min
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Fueling the Future - Inside North Dakota's Coal Industry

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