ND HB1579

Legislative management must conduct a study during the 2025-26 interim on the impact of large energy consumers, including data centers, on North Dakota's electrical grid, regulatory structure, and economic development

Study areas include grid reliability and infrastructure capacity, costs and allocation of necessary upgrades, regulatory consistency across investor-owned utilities, rural electric cooperatives, municipal providers, and independent power producers

Economic and market analysis required covering job creation, tax revenue, investment trends, demand-side management, and the ability of large consumers to support grid stability through off-peak consumption

Input required from data center operators, utilities, the Public Service Commission, Lignite Energy Council, North Dakota Transmission Authority, regional transmission organizations, and the Petroleum Council

Findings and recommended legislation must be reported to the 70th Legislative Assembly; passed House 89-3 and Senate 46-0