PSC to Hold Cap and Trade Summit

The North Dakota Public Service Commission is hosting a summit on Friday, April 17 to discuss potential implications of carbon cap and trade legislation being debated in Congress. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the Brynhild Haugland Room of the North Dakota State Capitol.

Carbon cap and trade legislation would cap the allowable amount of carbon emissions nationwide and require companies to trade carbon credits. Attendees will hear an overview of proposed legislation and how it will impact North Dakota and other states. Commission President Kevin Cramer said carbon cap legislation could have significant impacts on the energy industry, and on ordinary citizens.

“I am concerned carbon cap legislation will cause a hardship for consumers by driving up the price of energy delivered to homes and businesses, which will in turn increase the costs of everything we grow, produce, manufacture and purchase” Cramer said.

Guest speakers are Professor Andrew Keeler, of the John Glenn School of Public Affairs at Ohio State University, and Chris Mele, Legislative Director – Energy, for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.
The Commission has invited the North Dakota Congressional Delegation, as well as investor-owned utility companies, rural electric cooperatives, coal industry representatives, state and local leaders and others. The meeting is open to the public.

Commissioner Tony Clark, who has testified before Congress on energy issues and has spoken personally with Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently about North Dakota energy issues, said North Dakota plays a vital role in developing the nation’s energy policy. “Our state and our electric ratepayers will be more impacted by carbon regulation than most so we want to be sure we have a voice in the process,” Clark said.

Commissioner Brian Kalk said the summit will be a good opportunity for policymakers and stakeholders to share concerns and ideas in order to influence energy policy for the benefit of North Dakota and the nation.
“There is a lot at stake here and having an open forum increases the involvement in the process,” Kalk said. “Because this issue affects so many people, we anticipate the meeting will be well attended.”

The meeting will include opening remarks from the commissioners, followed by
presentations from the two guest speakers. Representatives of utility companies will then be given the opportunity to speak on the issue during a roundtable discussion.

The meeting will also be broadcast live over the Internet. For more details, visit the Commission’s website at www.psc.state.nd.us or contact the Commission at 328-2400.