Dick Anderson — Representative Dick Anderson is directly addressed, and shortly afterward he is called as present during the meeting.
Dick Anderson — Representative Anderson was identified as having a question.
Dick Anderson — Representative Anderson asked how long land stays in production after mining and how soon it returns to agricultural production after reclamation.
Mike Brandenburg — Called in the roll call.
Mike Brandenburg — Representative Mike Brandenburg is called on to speak, then asks a question while providing an update about the Allendale AI center and its opening. He is subsequently referenced in the response, keeping the exchange focused on the same AI center discussion.
Mike Brandenburg — Mike Brandenburg strongly supported building a fertilizer facility in North Dakota, arguing the state needs one because of high fertilizer costs, and characterized his remarks as a plea for help in advancing the project.
Mike Brandenburg — Mike Brandenburg asks about transmission lines and AC power delivery, specifically how stepping up voltage from 345 to 500 and higher helps reduce line loss in transmission systems.
Austin Foss — Called in the roll call.
Pat Heinert — Pat Heinert was noted as present and then seconded the motion to approve the minutes.
Pat Heinert — Representative Heinert asked for an update on the Williston data center project and related customer charges, then followed up by questioning how legal fees could stop being collected while the case is still in court. The responses clarified the situation and indicated that the earlier understanding about the fees was accurate.
Dustin McNally — Called in the roll call.
Dustin McNally — Representative Dustin McNally asked a follow-up question about how many large-load projects would be needed to restore coal production to its previous level, and the discussion continued with responses addressing his question about coal demand and large loads.
Dustin McNally — Representative McNally is part of a brief exchange in which a question is raised and the discussion continues immediately afterward, with no significant shift in topic.
Alisa Mitskog — Likely the name transcribed as "Mitchog"; called in the roll call.
Todd Porter — Todd Porter was called as present and confirmed present during roll call, then immediately participated in the meeting by moving approval of the minutes.
Todd Porter — Representative Todd Porter asks whether even a small federal ownership share in coal can prevent private owners from benefiting from their property, continuing the discussion about how federal ownership affects private development and use rights.
Todd Porter — Used as an example in discussing how topsoil and subsoil would be handled for a landowner's quarter section.
Todd Porter — Representative Todd Porter asks whether the economic impact study considers more than local tax revenue, specifically whether it accounts for jobs and broader local economic effects created by the project. The ensuing response addresses him directly as the questioner while continuing the same discussion.
Todd Porter — Representative Porter questions how the commission and MISO expect customer protection to be handled in large-load proposals, including whether integrated resource planning is shifting to a four-period framework and whether new large-load customers can be added without harming existing customers or distribution resources.
Kent Weston — Kent Weston was called as present and confirmed his attendance.
Brad Bekkedahl — Called in the roll.
Brad Bekkedahl — Senator Bekkedahl asked about disruption to shallow water systems and noted his familiarity with the speaker's name from northwest North Dakota.
Brad Bekkedahl — Mentioned in passing as having stepped away momentarily.
Brad Bekkedahl — Identified as the senator asking a follow-up question about federal leases and moving around them.
Brad Bekkedahl — Senator Brad Bekkedahl asked whether planned gas lines into Underwood could compete with or affect future coal plant development, and the speaker responded to that question regarding the relationship between the gas line plans and coal plant development.
Brad Bekkedahl — Senator Brad Bekkedahl asked whether the humic acid fertilizer production being discussed is similar to the product coming from the lignite plant in Williston. The ensuing discussion also touched on related ownership and intellectual property questions tied to the fertilizer production.
Brad Bekkedahl — Senator Beckendahl apologized for stepping out briefly, then questioned the utility about replacing coal generation with gas at Lewis and Clark, the loss of coal capacity at Sydney, whether generation declined after the coal unit went offline, and whether reserve needs would require market purchases. He then shifted to the utility’s wind farm acquisitions, including Badger Wind, and pressed on whether those purchases would drive base rate increases or whether other purchase power options could have been used instead. The exchange also clarified that the wind farm purchase was not part of the referenced rate increase request, and he asked whether a future rate increase could be tied specifically to Badger Wind.
Brad Bekkedahl — Senator Brad Bekkedahl is referenced multiple times in a continuous exchange: first as having made an earlier comment about PPAs, then as asking another follow-up question, then being directly addressed by name, and finally as his committee being mentioned in relation to the tax side of the issue. The discussion remains centered on his ongoing questions and committee involvement.
Ryan Braunberger — Called as present.
Ryan Braunberger — Senator Braunberger is introduced as the next member to ask questions, then he asks Mr. Jacobson whether the Allendale data center is his customer and seeks clarification about where the data center’s power comes from.
Mark Enget — Called in the roll.
Kathy Hogan — Called in the roll.
Greg Kessel — Called as present, though the transcription is uncertain.
Greg Kessel — Senator Kessel asked about labor availability, whether the jobs are desirable, whether the employer still needs workers, and how quickly turnover occurs. A later speaker then followed up on Senator Kessel’s employment question, keeping the discussion focused on labor and hiring.
Desiree Van Oosting — Called in the roll.
Andrew Haabaker — Andrew Haabaker, president of Coteau Properties Company, welcomes the committee to Coteau and provides housekeeping and safety instructions for the tour, including hard hats, safety glasses, and logistics for visiting the dragline. He then transitions into an introduction of Coteau Properties and the Freedom Mine, describing the company’s long history since 1983 and noting the mine’s large production scale, including nearly 600 million tons delivered, while emphasizing safety and operational context.
Michelle Axtman — The speaker referred to 'Anna' as the person who called to arrange the visit; this is likely Senator Michelle Axtman, but the transcript is not fully clear.
Andy Hawbaker — Andy Hawbaker explained that hiring is much harder than it was when he started 27 years ago, especially for electricians, and said the challenge is driven more by interest and location than by wages. The exchange then concluded with a brief thank-you to Andy after his answers.
Mr. Randy Christman — Introduced as the next speaker from the Public Service Commission, discussing coal mining reclamation.
Randy Christman — Randy Christman welcomed the committee to Mercer County and introduced himself as the chairman of the North Dakota Public Service Commission, setting up a brief opening statement to make the tour more valuable.
Jonathan Emmer — Jonathan Emmer, the director of mine reclamation and abandoned mine lands, is introduced and then praised as a trusted go-to resource for mine reclamation questions.
David Hogue — Jonathan handed out some sheets for the discussion.
David Hogue — Referenced indirectly through the phrase 'when I was in the Senate years ago,' indicating prior Senate service.
David Hogue — Mentioned indirectly in the phrase 'Thank you, Mr. Christman,' which appears to refer to the witness being thanked; no member ID certainty beyond the witness context.
David Hogue — Referenced indirectly through prior Senate service and discussion of PSC land release timing.
David Hogue — Referenced as someone the speaker is watching to see if the speaker is wrong about conservation easements.
David Hogue — The speaker says he will not keep Randy too long and asks follow-up questions about reclamation.
David Hogue — Addressed as 'Madam Chair' in the response to the question about reclamation standards.
David Hogue — Addressed as 'Madam Chair' in the response about data center reclamation models.
Jonathan Sickler — Jonathan Sickler is mentioned repeatedly in a continuous discussion where the speaker questions whether Jonathan has a better understanding of what is causing problems and says they will be watching him, particularly in the context of conservation easements, conservation leases, and mines.