Dakota Gasification Company, a for-profit subsidiary of Basin Electric Power Cooperative, operates the Great Plains Synfuels Plant located near Beulah, North Dakota. This plant is notable for being the only commercial-scale facility in the United States designed to produce synthetic natural gas from lignite coal, making it a vital contributor to the region's energy landscape. Since its opening in 1984, the Synfuels Plant has transformed approximately 18,000 tons of lignite coal each day, generating an average of 150 million cubic feet of synthetic natural gas, which is crucial for home heating and electricity generation across Eastern U.S. markets.
The facility is renowned for its environmental performance, ranking as the cleanest energy plant in North Dakota based on emissions data. It is a pioneer in carbon dioxide capture and storage, having successfully captured and transported over 40 million metric tons of CO2 since 2000. This captured CO2 is sent through a 205-mile pipeline to Saskatchewan, Canada, where it is used for enhanced oil recovery operations, thus promoting permanent geological sequestration.
With a committed workforce of over 500 employees, Dakota Gas emphasizes community involvement and workforce development, supporting various initiatives to enhance employee skills and deliver value to member-owners. Over the years, Dakota Gas has invested significantly in the Synfuels Plant, totaling more than $1.3 billion since its acquisition in 1988, to improve efficiency and expand its product offerings, which include synthetic natural gas, fertilizers, and a range of other chemical products. Dakota Gas continues to focus on innovation, growth, and sustainable practices within the energy sector.
