North Dakota Renewable Electricity Goal Status

Download North Dakota’s renewable electricity PDF

Renewable Goal Status: On Track

  • 2009 Estimated Qualified Renewable Generation: 8.1%[i]
  • 2015 Renewable Goal: 10% of sales[ii]

Eligible Resources: Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Hydrogen, Electricity from Waste Heat, Anaerobic Digestion

Renewable portfolio history: on 2007, North Dakota passed (H.B. 1506) that established a non-binding, voluntary target that by 2015, 10% of all retail electricity sold in the state would be obtained from renewable energy and recycled energy.[iii] The objective must be measured by qualifying megawatt-hours (MWh) delivered at retail or by credits purchased and retired to offset non-qualifying retail sales.(2)

  • Before using new renewable and recycled energy after August 1, 2007, each retail provider required to make an “economic evaluation” to see if new renewable and recycled energy was “cost-effective” compared to other electricity standards[iv]

Credit Trading: Yes

Noncompliance Penalty: None

Electricity Price Ranking: 6th Lowest[v]

  • 6.9 cents/KWh in North Dakota
  • 10.58 cents/KWh in states with RPS penalties



[i] Electricity Generation Data: Energy Information Administration, Electricity Generation 2009, http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/generation_state_mon.xls.

[ii] North Dakota Powers Commission; Chapter 49-02-28. http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t49c02.pdf

[iii] Database of state Incentives for Renewables and Electricity, North Dakota. http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=ND04R&re=1&ee=1.

[iv] Database of state Incentives for Renewables and Electricity, North Dakota. http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=ND04R&re=1&ee=1.

[v] EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B., Average Retail Price of Electricity, June 2010, Released Sept. 15, 2010, http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_6_b.html.

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