BISMARCK, N.D., Oct. 15 (UPI) -- North Dakota is the "national powerhouse" when it comes to turning its vast energy resources into value for the state, Gov. Jack Dalrymple said.
Dalrymple and other high-ranking state officials addressed the Great Plains and Empower North Dakota Energy Conference, highlighting the billions of dollars in investments made in a state at the heart of the shale oil and gas boom.
"North Dakota is a national powerhouse in energy production and we have taken important steps to convert our energy resources into products of greater value," the governor said.
Dalrymple said the state has the right policies in place to empower all parts of the energy sector to work together to meet the growing demand for affordable energy.
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said at the conference the state stands as an example of what can be accomplished with a healthy business climate. It's among the national leaders in terms of economic growth.
The comments follow an announcement by Badlands NGL, LLC of plans to build a $4 billion processing plants to convert ethane gas taken from shale deposits in the state into polyethylene, which is used in the plastics industry.
While the state's Bakken oil reserve is one of the premier shale basins in the country, it lacks the infrastructure do utilize natural gas associated with oil deposits. The Badland project will help utilize that gas and represents the largest investment in state history.
