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Committee advances Patton bill to raise State Energy Research Center funding and extend sunset
Summary
The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to give Senate Bill 2143 a "do pass" recommendation and re-refer it to appropriations after testimony that the State Energy Research Center has funded early-stage energy innovation in North Dakota and attracted follow-on investment.
Senators and committee members advanced Senate Bill 2143 on a voice/roll-call motion after hearing testimony that the State Energy Research Center has seeded early-stage energy research and leveraged additional investment.
Sen. Dale Patton introduced the bill as seeking to amend the per‑biennium appropriation for the State Energy Research Center from $7,500,000 to $10,000,000 and to extend the existing sunset provision. "Very simple bill," Patton said, describing the increase and an amendment to extend the sunset.
Tom Erickson, director of the State Energy Research Center at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), described how the center focuses on very early, exploratory research and shepherds ideas toward commercialization. "We spend approximately 80% of all of the funding on the State Energy Research Center focused on these new ideas," Erickson said. He told the committee the program has funded more than 60 ideas, supported follow‑on proposals that secured roughly $71 million in additional proposal requests and $33 million in brought‑in funding, and has pursued patent protection for several technologies.
Erickson described a small, early investment that led to a compressor redesign and commercial relationships aimed at reducing flaring in North Dakota: "A lot of that idea was born out of just $90,000 worth of effort from the State Energy Research Center." He also described the Energy Hawks summer program that brings college students statewide for ten weeks of exposure to North Dakota energy industries and ideation work.
With no opposition offered, Representative Hedlund moved a "do pass" recommendation with referral to appropriations; Representative Ruby seconded the motion. The clerk called the roll and the motion carried by recorded vote.
The committee record shows the bill will be carried forward to the Appropriations Committee for consideration of the requested funding increase and the sunset-extension language.
Votes at a glance: Due pass and re‑refer to Appropriations on Senate Bill 2143 — motion by Rep. Hedlund, second by Rep. Ruby; roll call recorded in committee minutes.
