North Dakota
Trump EPA plans to roll back Biden's carbon, mercury emissions rules that would hit North Dakota coal plants
FARGO — President Donald Trump’s administration plans to repeal two Biden-era rules that North Dakota leaders say
would threaten the state’s coal industry.
But rescinding the rule could cost lives, an environmental group said.
The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed rescinding the Clean Power Plan 2.0 and a Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, or MATS, rule, according to a release issued Wednesday, June 11. North Dakota’s congressional delegation and North Dakota
Gov. Kelly Armstrong
celebrated the development.
“Today’s action by the EPA is a win for U.S. energy dominance and supports continued access to the affordable and reliable baseload power provided by coal,” Sen.
John Hoeven,
R-N.D., said in a statement.
The EPA needs to finalize its decision to rescind the rules. It’s unclear when that may happen.
Under former President Joe Biden, the EPA approved the Clean Power Plan 2.0 in an effort to reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels that generate electricity. Biden aimed to cut back greenhouse gas emissions and slow
climate change.
Biden’s EPA also called on coal-fired power plants to reduce the amount of toxic metal emissions released into the atmosphere. Mercury in the air can be dangerous for certain populations, including pregnant women and children, according to the Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy group.
“It’s completely reprehensible that Donald Trump would seek to roll back these lifesaving standards and do more harm to the American people and our planet just to earn some brownie points with the fossil fuel industry,” Sierra Club Climate Policy Director Patrick Drupp said in a statement. “This repeal means more climate disasters, more heart attacks, more asthma attacks, more birth defects, more premature deaths.”
Lignite coal-fired plants, like the five in North Dakota, initially had to reduce mercury emissions by 70% before July 8, 2027. Trump extended that deadline by two years after the coal industry said technology to reduce mercury emissions didn’t exist.
The MATS rule would cost coal plants in 12 states, including North Dakota, $1.2 billion over a decade starting in 2028, the EPA said in its Wednesday news release.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin criticized Biden’s Clean Power Plan, claiming its purpose was to “regulate coal, oil and gas out of existence.”
“Affordable, reliable electricity is key to the American dream and a natural byproduct of national energy dominance,” Zeldin said in a statement. “According to many, the primary purpose of these Biden-Harris administration regulations was to destroy industries that didn’t align with their narrow-minded climate change zealotry.
Repealing the Clean Power Plan would save the power sector $19 billion in regulatory costs, the EPA said.
U.S. Sen Kevin Cramer, Hoeven and Armstrong called the Biden-era rules an overreach. Armstrong said he met with Zeldin last month in Washington, D.C., to discuss the rules.
In a statement, Armstrong said the Clean Power Plan would “effectively shut down existing coal-fired power plants by requiring them to curb greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2032.” MATS threatened the power grid and would force coal plants to prematurely close, Armstrong said.
“It’s refreshing to finally have a regulatory agency that takes input from the people who produce what the world needs – and allows them to do it better than anyone else while protecting the environment,” the governor wrote.
The two rules targeted North Dakota’s energy industries, Cramer said.
“In North Dakota, we mine lignite coal and produce very reliable, long-term, steady electricity at a low cost,” he said in a statement. “I’ve always resented that somebody in this building, at EPA, thought they cared more about the air, land, water and economy than I did and my family did.”
The Biden rules would threaten the reliability of the country’s power grid and weaken national security, U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., said in a statement.
“Under the Trump administration, the EPA is charting a new course — one that supports the responsible development of the natural resources we’ve been blessed with for the good of the American people,” she said in calling the potential repeal “a big win for North Dakota energy and American manufacturing.”
Submitted Photo
Randy Burckhard, right, receives the Commander’s Award for Public Service from Gen. S.L. Davis, left, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command and commander of Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic Command. The award was presented Tuesday, April 28, at the 2026 North Dakota Nuclear Triad Symposium in Minot. Photo from Minot Area Chamber EDC.
Randy Burckhard of Minot was caught by surprise when he was called to the stage to accept an award at the 2026 North Dakota Nuclear Triad Symposium held in Minot Tuesday, April 28.
Gen. S.L. Davis, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command and commander of Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic Command, presented Burckhard with the Commander’s Award for Public Service.
The award is in recognition of Burckhard’s distinguished service as an outstanding Air Force advocate representing Minot and surrounding areas, as part of the Air Force Global Strike Command Civic Leader Program, from Jan. 1, 2010-December 31, 2025.
“Randy has been a great supporter. He was an honorary commander when I was a wing commander (at Minot AFB from June 2011-June 2012). He became an Air Force Global Strike Civic Leader,” Davis said.
He said Burckhard recently asked to be moved to emeritus status but will continue to serve as a mentor for his replacement with the program.
Burckhard said it has been an honor and pleasure for him to serve and gave his appreciation for the award.
Maj. Thomas Barger, chief of Public Affairs at Minot Air Force Base, read the citation accompanying the award to symposium participants.
The citation states that during his tenure in the Air Force Global Strike Command Civic Leader Program, Burckhard represented the communities surrounding Minot AFB and supported the 36,000 airmen and families in Air Force Global Strike Command.
The citation also noted he provided vital advocacy for Spouse Licensure, the Interstate Compact for students, and tax exemptions for military members and retirees in North Dakota.
Burckhard, a state senator for 16 years, will retire at the conclusion of his term in late November.
The citation said that additionally, he advocated for the B-21, Sentinel and MH-139 programs through both his role on the Civic Leader Program, and as a leader with Task Force 21, whose Nuclear Triad Symposiums have served as a vital platform for both education and advocacy for the nuclear mission.
He routinely advised command senior leaders during annual commander’s conferences on matters affecting community partners, and highlighted community issues key to the Command’s mission. He also enhanced public awareness and support for Global Strike issues through engagements with his local, regional, state and national contacts.
“The distinctive accomplishments of Mr. Burckhard reflect great credit upon himself, Air Force Global Strike Command and the United States Air Force,” the citation concludes.
North Dakota
Armstrong directs flags to be flown at half-staff Friday in honor and remembrance of Rep. Liz Conmy
Conmy died Saturday, April 25, at age 67, along with her partner, Joe Cass, in a plane crash in Minnesota. Conmy had represented District 11 in the North Dakota House of Representatives since 2022.
A celebration of life service for Conmy will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at RiverHaven Events Center, 700 1st Ave. N., Moorhead, Minnesota.
Getty
NDSU gets a reality check on draft and transfer portal.
North Dakota State’s draft success continued this year, and there could be more to come in 2027.
While NDSU boasts 16 draft picks since 2004 as a Division I program, the Bison faced sobering news regarding the final draft numbers this year amid a move up to the FBS. Only 13 Group of Six players had their names called compared to 239 players from the Power Four conferences, which college football analyst Chris Hummer broke down.
NDSU had two picks this year, the most of any Mountain West Conference team. The FCS, where the Bison just left, only had four overall — counting quarterback Cole Payton and wide receiver Bryce Lance from NDSU.
“It’s yet another example of the talent drain for the G6 and FCS due to the transfer portal,” Hummer wrote via X.
NDSU moving to the FBS may not slow down losing players in the transfer portal. Just ask around the Mountain West, where 138 players have departed since late 2025.
That most notably included former UNLV quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who transferred to Nebraska. NDSU lost six starters, and the majority went to Power Four schools.
Former Bison players lost include Colorado defensive end Toby Anene, Vanderbilt left tackle Beau Johnson, Florida State long snapper Caleb Bowers, Michigan State center Trent Farley and Iowa kicker Eli Ozick. Bigger competition and NIL money continue to be the draw for Power Four teams, and NDSU may not become an exception among G6 teams losing players.
How the Top G6 Teams Fared With The Transfer Portal
Former Bison FCS rival and College Football Playoff participant James Madison, one of the top G6 teams around, lost more than 11 starters this year.
Many of the JMU Players, except for Colorado edge Immanuel Ezeogu, transferred to UCLA, following former Dukes head coach Bob Chesney to Los Angeles. That’s not the first time JMU has experienced an exodus of players with a head coach. It happened with Curt Cignetti when he left JMU for Indiana, and he built a national championship team that had numerous former Dukes standouts.
Tulane, also a G6 CFP participant, lost 26 players. That included major key players such as Indiana wide receiver Shazz Preston, Tennessee running back Javin Gordon and Louisville tight end Justyn Reid.
Boise State, last year’s Mountain West champion and a 2024 CFP entrant, lost numerous key players from the 2025 team. That includes LSU safety Ty Benefield and Arkansas wide receiver Chris Marshall.
NDSU Has Gained in Transfer Portal
While the exodus of G6 players doesn’t look favorable, the Bison have gained three Power Four players since the FBS move.
Former Arizona wide receiver Jeremiah Patterson and former West Virginia wideout Jordan McCants both joined the team in the past month. Most recently, the Bison landed former Notre Dame cornerback Chance Tucker.
That’s not entirely new for the Bison, which even landed Power Four quarterbacks with starting experience during the FCS dynasty. Former Iowa State quarterback Zeb Noland and former Virginia Tech quarterback Quincy Patterson II both started games for the Bison after transferring. However, neither reached the level of success as the five former home-grown starters who landed in the NFL draft over the past decade.
Matthew Davis covers the NFL, WNBA and college sports for Heavy.com. As a contributing writer to the StarTribune, he has also covered Minnesota prep sports since 2016. More about Matthew Davis
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