John Hoeven: “I am pleased to join my colleague from Nebraska and others in discussing the importance of continuing to develop our…”

“I am pleased to join my colleague from Nebraska and others in discussing the importance of continuing to develop our energy resources here in North Dakota. We have the most abundant energy resources in the world, and we need to use all of them to develop and continue to build an ``all of the above'' energy policy. Much of the Nation continues to experience very cold temperatures--in some cases, really record cold temperatures. In my State of North Dakota, coal typically provides 35 to 40 percent of the 24/7 baseload power generation to not only our State but to other States in the region. We supply both the MISO and the SPP power pools with energy for our region that they can count on 24/7--baseload energy. In the coldest times or in the hottest times--at peak energy times--they know that those baseload powerplants are going to be there to keep the lights on, to keep the heat going, and to provide whatever other power needs are called for. That is 24/7 baseload power provided all the time. Also, not only is it 24/7 energy when needed and at peak times, but according to the Energy Information Office, in their October 23 report, North Dakotans paid the lowest electricity prices in the country--the lowest in the country. Let's compare that, for example, to California. California paid four times as much for electricity during the same time period. My colleague from Nebraska just talked about electric vehicles.…”