Lignite Education Seminar | Video

Jennifer Joas | 6/18/2012

There is an 800 year supply of recoverable lignite in North Dakota. That means the coal industry is not going away anytime soon. That`s why the Lignite Energy Council holds a yearly event to educate teachers and encourage them to show the career potential to students.

The lignite industry employs 4,000 people in North Dakota. And with many of those workers approaching retirement age, the council thinks there`s no better time to reach out to the youth than right now.

"People who are interested in staying in North Dakota through the energy industry, not only through the lignite industry but also through the oil and gas industry really have an opportunity to do that. So we really try to tell the teachers about the different jobs," said Lignite Energy Council Vice President of Communications Steve Van Dyke.

But their message goes beyond just jobs. The Lignite Energy Council has been holding this seminar for 27 years to educate teachers on the depth of the industry.

"You hear about how big the trucks and the loaders and all those things are, but to actually see that up close and get a little perspective of that, it`s interesting," said Faulkton, SD teacher Norb Reuer.

Teachers will be able to tour the coal plants throughout the week and see up close what the industry is about.

"It`s one thing for them to read about it, but it`s another thing for them to actually walk out in a field that`s been reclaimed," Van Dyke said. "Then to tour a power plant they can see the equipment such as the dry fining equipment that was basically invented here in North Dakota."

The seminar continues through Thursday. Teachers will receive two graduate credits for attending the seminar. Most of the teachers at this year`s seminar came from North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana and South Dakota.

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