Energy Summit in Bismarck - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

The gallons of black gold underneath the ground are drawing a lot of attention to North Dakota.

But so is what's generating power from above.

Ag Reporter Sarah Gustin takes you to the Renewable Energy Summit in Bismarck where energy experts are taking notes from our state's success to help our nation achieve energy independence.

North Dakota ranks number 2 in the nation in oil production, and we are stealing the spotlight in renewable energy production.

(Dr. Dana Christensen / U.S. Dept. of Energy National Renewable Energy Lab) "The potential for North Dakota is to totally lead the country in this integrated energy future. And when you talk around the country right now, that is the buzz about North Dakota." 

Empower North Dakota, our state's energy plan, is putting ND on the map.

Officials say energy independence is possible if other states emulate the policy North Dakota has in place.

(Phyllis Cuttino / Pew Environmental Group) "When there is steady, reliable policy, investors go and invest because they know they can get a return on their investment."

(Senator John Hoeven / (R) North Dakota)"In my opinion we can get the energy security within five years if we just work on this as a nation, the way we worked on it here in North Dakota. when I say energy security I mean we produce more energy, traditional and renewable here, than we consume." 

Since 2004, the renewable energy sector has grown 600%, nationwide.

During the last decade, North Dakota has experienced a 10-fold increase in bio fuels production.

Now with 5 ethanol plants and a 85 million gallon diesel facility.

Currently, North Dakota holds a spot in the top ten in wind production in the nation, and is ranked 1st in the US for potential wind energy output.

(Dr. Dana Christensen / U.S. Dept. of Energy National Renewable Energy Lab)"There are opportunities where you have got a good ag resource like corn stover and wheat straw that you can use that for energy production like co-firing it with coal. By co firing you can reduce fossil fuel consumption, blend together renewable with fossil fuels and you can get a more stable economy." 

Senator Hoeven says The Domestic Fuels Act, which is bipartisan legislation that he introduced in the U.S. Senate, will help develop the fuel stations of the future.

(Senator John Hoeven / (R) North Dakota) "It might be traditional gasoline, it might be ethanol it might be bio diesel, it might be some combination of those it might be fuel cell. It might be electric hookup. In other words, the service station of the future is about all these different energy sources, market based approach, what is the consumer choice and the best price. By producing all those we increase supply with reduces the cost and reduces our dependence on foreign oil."

Currently North Dakota has the capacity to produce more than 400 million gallons of ethanol a year.