Bank of North Dakota seeks extension of Clean Sustainable Energy Fund line of credit; bill would add water director to advisory panel

The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division considered Senate Bill 2188, which would extend and expand financing authorities for the Clean Sustainable Energy Fund and add an advisory seat for the Department of Water Resources director.

Kylie Merkel of the Bank of North Dakota explained an amendment to extend the fund’s line of credit. “The balance on the line of credit is about 60,000,000. The total line of credit is $390,000,000,” Merkel said, and noted the line’s current maturity would expire at the end of the present biennium (June 30, 2025). Bank staff recommended extending the line’s maturity through June 30, 2029 (committee members discussed a 2027 alternative).

Sponsor Senator Dale Patton described policy and funding elements in the bill. On the policy side the bill would add the Department of Water Resources director to the authority’s non‑voting technical advisors. On the funding side Patton told the committee the bill requests $30 million in grant funding and $100 million in additional line‑of‑credit authority for loans; he said the proposed growth in revolving credit would increase available annual loan capacity over time and estimated the program could provide roughly $25 million per year or $50 million per biennium under a larger revolving cap.

Bank of North Dakota staff told the committee the authority has funded roughly $420 million in total to date and that grants outstanding are roughly in the low‑nine‑figure range; staff agreed to provide the committee a worksheet with up‑to‑date grant and loan totals. Committee members did not take a vote at the hearing; staff and sponsor said they would provide summary figures for committee review.