National Energy Center of Excellence

Energy education support

North Dakota sponsors the Workforce Enhancement Program to help two-year institutions of higher education create or improve training programs to address workforce needs of private sector employers in the state.

Basin Electric is a private sector partner of the grants BSC receives.
Basin Electric also matches donations from its member co-ops to BSC.
Basin Electric's early financial support garnered it the privilege of naming the new facility at BSC: the National Energy Center of Excellence.

The new National Energy Center of Excellence at Bismarck State College (BSC), dedicated in 2008, is a new educational facility for students who are interested in pursuing careers in the energy field, ranging from linemen to power plant technicians and everything in between.

Basin Electric's support of NECE began several years ago with its $2 million pledge toward creation of the facility. Basin Electric is now a private sector partner of the grants BSC receives, and will match $24,250 in donations from its member electric co-ops: Capital Electric, Mountrail-Williams Electric, Verendrye Electric, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric, Roughrider Electric, Slope Electric, McLean Electric, McKenzie Electric, KEM Electric and Central Power.

Since 2008, Basin Electric has provided more than $93,000 in cash, equipment donations and in-kind donations to BSC's energy education efforts.

Ron Harper, CEO and general manager, says, "Bismarck State College's students represent our future. Programs such as the ones offered by Bismarck State College are critical to not only Basin Electric's future, but to our nation's energy future."

The energy programs at Bismarck State College have a significant impact on Basin Electric's workforce. About 450 Basin Electric and Dakota Gasification Company employees are graduates of BSC.

At a presentation held July 7, 2009, at the NECE, North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Shane Goettle presented two checks totaling $196,959 to BSC through the Workforce Enhancement Grant program specifically to support the school's Lineworker Program and Process Plant Technology Program.

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