Cramer: UND EERC to Receive Nearly $3.5 Million from Department of Energy

Congressman Kevin Cramer announced the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy has selected the University of North Dakota (UND) Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) as one of two recipients of $7 million in federal funding for associated carbon dioxide (CO2) geological storage research and development.

The EERC will receive $3,495,703 from the DOE with $873,926 in non-DOE funding to establish the Williston Basin CO2 Field Laboratory in the South Central Cut Bank oil field. The purpose of this project is to advance storage of CO2 associated with enhanced oil recovery operations within the Williston Basin.

"I am pleased to hear about today's announcement for the EERC and what this can do for North Dakota and the Nation's oil resource development," said Cramer. "This project will support the innovation and development of utilizing CO2 to produce more energy from existing wells and provide safe and cost-effective CO2 storage. CO2 is not a waste product, it's a commodity."

Cramer is sponsoring legislation and working with the Trump Administration to ensure the Internal Revenue Service amends its guidance and rules for implementing 45Q tax credits for captured CO2 for utilization in enhanced oil and natural gas recovery operations. The opportunity for these operations were highlighted during Energy Secretary Perry's visit to North Dakota earlier this month.

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