A concurrent resolution urging the Southwest Power Pool and Midcontinent Independent System Operator to promptly and decisively act to maintain the reliability of the bulk power system by addressing market failures that have allowed capacity retirements to outpace replacement.
HCR 3015 is a concurrent resolution urging the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) to take immediate action to preserve bulk power system reliability. The resolution argues that capacity retirements are outpacing replacement generation, creating reliability risks for North Dakota and the broader regional grid. It cites concerns about rapid retirement of dispatchable generation, delays in new capacity, increased reliance on intermittent resources, and warnings from federal and reliability organizations about elevated risk of energy shortages.
The resolution also calls on the North Dakota Public Service Commission and the North Dakota Transmission Authority to advocate within MISO and SPP for market reforms that better compensate dispatchable baseload resources and more accurately value generation based on reliability contributions. It emphasizes a diversified energy mix, including thermal, renewable, and emerging technologies such as hydrogen and carbon capture, utilization, and storage, and urges that market structures support reliability, affordability, and resilience.
HCR 3015 does not amend state statutes or create new regulatory requirements; it is a nonbinding policy statement and advocacy resolution. Its practical effect is to direct state officials and the Secretary of State to communicate North Dakota’s position to federal and regional grid entities, including FERC, MISO, SPP, the Public Service Commission, the Transmission Authority, and the state’s congressional delegation. The resolution seeks to influence regional market design and resource adequacy policy affecting electric utilities, generators, and grid operators serving North Dakota.
The overall sentiment appears strongly supportive and aligned around reliability and energy security concerns. The House adopted the resolution on second reading by a vote of 87-0, indicating unanimous support among those voting. The text frames the issue as urgent and emphasizes the need for decisive action to prevent shortages and maintain affordable, dependable electricity.
There is little direct contention reflected in the available record because the resolution passed unanimously and no committee transcript is available. The underlying policy dispute, however, is evident in the text: supporters argue that market failures, subsidies, and renewable mandates have distorted incentives and accelerated retirement of dispatchable baseload generation, while the resolution favors reforms that better reward reliability attributes. Potentially affected stakeholders include renewable energy advocates, owners of thermal and dispatchable generation, utilities, and regional transmission organizations, though no opposing arguments are documented in the provided materials.