North Dakota
NextEra fertilizer plant gets additional $75M as Dickinson project withdraws, forfeiting loan
BISMARCK — The NextEra hydrogen-based fertilizer production plant will move forward in Stutsman County, getting the full benefit of a $125 million state forgivable loan after a second fertilizer project decided not to move forward, forfeiting its share of the loan.
The North Dakota Industrial Commission in January approved a $50 million loan for NextEra Energy Resources Development for a plant near Spiritwood, east of Jamestown in Stutsman County, and $75 million to Prairie Horizon Energy for a plant near Dickinson.
Prairie Horizon, a partnership of Marathon Petroleum and TC Energy, has decided not to pursue the project, meaning the full $125 million forgivable loan will go to NextEra, the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, a division of the Industrial Commission, announced Monday, March 4.
Florida-based NextEra has built multiple wind energy projects in North Dakota and will use wind energy for its fertilizer production plant, making it a zero-carbon producer of fertilizer. The plant is projected as a $1.3 billion project.
“Providing a secure and in-state supply of nitrogen fertilizer would create cost and supply stability in North Dakota, inviting further fertilizer production investment in the state with potentially billions of dollars of total investment in the sector,” NextEra said in its loan application with the state. “This would position North Dakota as not just a national leader in clean energy agriculture, but a global leader.”
Additional fertilizer production has become a priority in North Dakota, which largely imports chemical fertilizers from other countries to boost yields for corn, wheat and other crops.
Global conflicts have made for volatile fertilizer prices in recent years, making it difficult for farmers to plan.
NextEra’s application says it plans to begin construction in 2025, finish construction in 2028 and be operational in 2028 or 2029. The project needs to be operational before the loan will be forgiven.
“NextEra is one of the few companies in the industry that has the flexibility to initially fund the development and construction of a project of this size using our balance sheet and do not need to rely on third-party financing,” the company’s application said.
The company says it would generate hundreds of jobs as the project develops in multiple phases.
The project would start with ammonia with plans to expand to other nitrogen-based fertilizers, including urea.
The fertilizer loan was authorized by House Bill 1546 during the November 2023 special session. The bill required the production of hydrogen “by the electrolysis of water” in producing fertilizer.
The Clean Sustainable Energy Authority had two independent reviewers score the projects as part of the application process.
Those scores were ranked into categories of “good,” “fair” and “questionable.” Both the reviews for the NextEra plant fell into the “questionable” category. One review of Prairie Horizon was high enough to be rated “good,” the other “questionable.”
Members of the authority also gave the Prairie Horizon plant a higher score and recommended the greater share of the funding to Prairie Horizon.
The Industrial Commission concurred with that recommendation in a Jan. 24 meeting. The companies then had 30 days to accept the funding through the Bank of North Dakota or forfeit its share to the other project.
Prairie Horizon, in a letter to the Bank of North Dakota and the Industrial Commission said “it is unable to commit to the technology requirements” of the loan and said it would like to see future incentive programs be “technology agnostic.”
This story was originally published on NorthDakotaMonitor.com
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North Dakota
Fire burns at Pallet Green Recycling storage yard in rural Williston
WILLISTON, N.D. (KFYR) – UPDATE (5/10/2026 at 11:45 p.m.): A fire broke out at a Williston recycling business Sunday evening, and no one was injured.
Multiple crews responded to Pallet Green Recycling just before 8:30 p.m., according to the Williston Fire Department. Crews arrived at the scene where they fought heavy smoke and flames.
Industrial storage containers were on scene, and officials say it is unclear what, if any, chemical residue was inside them. Officials believe there is no danger to the public.
Williston Fire Chief Corey Johnson said the fire was contained to the business’s exterior storage yard, and crews were not concerned about it spreading beyond the property.
“Right now, the structures are protected in the area. We’re not concerned about the fire spreading off of the lot,” Johnson said.
Multiple departments from across Williams County responded, and extra water trucks were brought in due to the fire’s remote location.
The cause remains under investigation.
This is a developing story. Your News Leader will provide updates as more information becomes available.
ORIGINAL STORY (5/10/2026 at 9:39 p.m.): Crews responded to a large fire at a storage yard in rural Williston on Sunday night.
The fire is located at Pallet Green Recycling, according to the business owner.
Sylvia Luebke captured video of the scene from a distance around 8 p.m. The fire sent a large plume of smoke over the area. Luebke said it was still burning as of around 9 p.m.
Williston Rural Fire is working to battle the fire. The department was unable to comment at this time.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
Copyright 2026 KFYR. All rights reserved.
North Dakota
ND Guard officer in charge of DC special mission
Submitted Photo
U.S. soldiers with the Nebraska and North Dakota National Guards, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, pose for a group photo at a hotel in Alexandria, Virginia, April 28. N.D. National Guard 2nd Lt. Caleb Hill, front row, far left, served as the officer in charge of the mission when soldiers assigned to JTF-DC responded to the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner April 25. About 2,500 National Guard members are supporting the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department to help ensure the safety of residents, commuters and visitors throughout the District. U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Norris.
WASHINGTON – U.S. soldiers with the North Dakota, Arkansas and Nebraska Army National Guard, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, responded to a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner (WHCAD) at the Washington Hilton in Northwest Washington April 25.
The Guardsmen were at the WHCAD at the request of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) as an additional patrol unit created specifically for the event, which celebrates the contribution of news organizations and independent journalists alike who provide notable coverage relating to the presidential administration.
“Our mission was to assist the U.S. Secret Service with crowd control,” said Capt. Kevin Peatrowsky, an operations officer with the Nebraska National Guard (NENG) assigned to JTF-DC.
As the Guardsmen were monitoring their area of operations, they saw USSS agents sprint toward the hotel entrance.
“They were running full speed with their weapons drawn,” said Sgt. 1st. Class Allen Haney, a team member with the Arkansas National Guard. “We immediately followed suit.”
Staff Sgt. Kirsten Confer, a NENG combat medic and battle captain, recalled her response to the incident: “We fell back on our basic training. You run toward danger and move in a way that makes sense for the situation.”
According to Confer, the Guardsmen entered the hotel and immediately began securing the scene and ensured that the guests evacuated safely. At the direction of a federal agent, Confer began a rapid trauma assessment on the suspect which resulted in finding knives and ammunition on the shooter. Simultaneously, the Arkansas soldiers moved outside to provide crowd control at a pedestrian barricade outside the hotel.
“From there, we assisted wherever we could,” said 2nd Lt. Caleb Hill, a National Guardsman from North Dakota who served as the officer in charge for the mission. “We were initially helping with crowd control. After that, we realized that the USSS had begun rerouting everyone in the hotel, so we moved to the doors. We were controlling entry into the venue, so we had moved a couple more people outside, so we had five inside, eight outside.” Both Arkansas and Nebraska worked well alongside one another and, alongside the federal agencies. Hill also noted that relying on his soldiers allowed him to move to different teams, which helped allow him to plan and coordinate with different agencies.
According to 1st Lt. Jonathan Goins, a platoon leader with the Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas soldiers also helped establish a security perimeter for the staging of the presidential motorcade. Later, the team assisted federal agencies and MPD with crowd control, which helped clear the way for the president and administration officials, he said.
“Guardsmen on this mission represent the very best of the nation,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard II, the interim commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard. “The world got a brief glimpse, but I see them each day serving and doing amazing things across the District.”
North Dakota
Stampede stay alive with 2-1 OT win in Fargo
FARGO, N.D. (KELO) — The Sioux Falls Stampede staved off elimination with a 2-1 overtime win over the Fargo Force in game four of the USHL Western Conference Finals Saturday night.
Thomas Zocco scored the game-winner 12 minutes into the extra period. Arseni Marchenko put Fargo on the board first in the first period. Noah Mannausau tied the game for the Herd in the second period.
Sioux Falls outshot Fargo 53-49, including 9-5 in overtime. Linards Feldbergs made 48 saves.
Three of the four games of the series have gone to overtime. The winner-take-all game five is Tuesday at the Premier Center.
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