Lignite teacher seminar set

Registration is now open for the Lignite Energy Council’s Teacher Education Seminar: “Energy, Economics and Environment.” The four-day seminar gives elementary, middle and high school teachers in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Montana a first-hand look at North Dakota’s fifth largest industry, lignite mining and related energy production. The seminar will be held June 17-20 at Bismarck State College’s National Energy Center of Excellence, Bismarck.

“Teachers are encouraged to register early as space is limited and the seminar fills up quickly,” said Renee Walz, Lignite Energy Council director of member services and education. “One of the biggest draws of our seminar is that it offers two graduate credits paid for by the Lignite Energy Council, not to mention the popular tours of a lignite mine, power plant and the Great Plains Synfuels Plant.”

Teachers who attend and complete a lesson plan can choose from one of three of these North Dakota institutions from which to receive their graduate credit: University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University and Minot State University.

The seminar provides instruction on these topics and more: economics of the lignite industry, job creation and the need for more workers, energy conservation, and transmission. On the third day of the seminar, educators will tour a lignite mine, a power plant fueled by lignite and the Great Plains Synfuels Plant, the only facility of its kind in the U.S. Additionally, teachers will take home handouts, videos, coal samples and activities that can be used in the classroom.

Teachers from all grade levels should apply before April 12. The online application for North Dakota teachers is available at http://www.lig nite.com/teachers.

The Lignite Energy Council is a trade association that represents more than 370 companies that are involved in the region’s energy industry. Each year, about 30 million tons of lignite are produced in North Dakota.

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