GRAND FORKS – The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota has received a $5 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy to help develop CO2 storage facilities in the Williston Basin.

The funds will support North Dakota’s role as a world leader in the development and implementation of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies and help ensure the state can continue using all of its coal, oil and gas reserves.

Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer announced the award.

“Whether in support of our coal-fired power plants, facilities like the Great Plains Synfuels Plant or our vast oil and gas industry, EERC and North Dakota are leading the way in developing CCUS technologies. This $5 million award provides continued support for the partnerships we’ve built to advance these efforts. It will enable EERC to provide its technical expertise as companies develop basinwide carbon storage facilities, utilizing our unique geology in the Bakken and the legal framework and regulatory certainty we’ve worked to provide at the state and federal level,” Hoeven said.