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Committee advances bill to count Missouri‑River hydropower as renewable for municipal utilities
Summary
Missouri River Energy Services and municipal clients told the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee that House Bill 1211 would allow all North Dakota hydroelectric power to count as renewable, enabling associated renewable energy certificates to be used or traded by municipal utilities.
Representative Dave Munson introduced House Bill 1211 on behalf of municipal electric utilities and Missouri River Energy Services (MRES). The bill would change North Dakota’s definition of renewable energy so that hydroelectric power produced in the state counts as renewable regardless of the plant’s in‑service date; testimony said the change would align North Dakota with neighboring states and allow hydro power from the Western Area Power Administration to carry renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Deborah Bergen of Missouri River Energy Services said MRES serves 61 municipal electric communities across four states and six MRES members are in North Dakota (Cavalier, Lakota, Northwood, Hillsboro, Riverdale and Valley City). Bergen said WAPA has moved to register hydropower so that the power can come with RECs; if state law counts that hydro as renewable, municipalities can retire or transfer RECs to meet local obligations or to support large customers such as data centers. Bergen said allowing older hydropower to be counted would make REC treatment consistent among North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa and facilitate intra‑agency REC transfers.
Randy Christman of the Public Service Commission said he had no objection and confirmed the bill is compatible with Senate Bill 2359 (which separately modifies renewable objective language). Bergen said the ultimate rate impact for retail customers would depend on when RECs are monetized or transferred and on future REC market prices; she noted REC prices were trading at roughly $1 per certificate at the time of testimony but that the market could change.
The committee approved a due‑pass recommendation on House Bill 1211. Senator Wallen moved the due‑pass motion, Senator Powers seconded, and the committee’s recorded roll call registered affirmative votes from members present. Senator Powers volunteered to carry the bill.
