North Dakota Lignite Energy Industry's Contribution to the State Economy for 2013 and Projected for 2014

Abstract

The lignite energy industry's contribution to the North Dakota economy has been measured using key economic indicators, including retail trade activity, personal income, total business activity, employment, and tax revenues. These estimates were based on actual industry expenditures for 2013 and projected expenditures for 2014. This analysis contains several measures of the relative importance of the lignite energy industry in North Dakota. First, expenditures (obtained from a survey of firms involved in lignite mining and conversion) were used to estimate the business activity the industry generates in the sectors of the state’s economy. Second, the industry's share of the state's total sales to final demand (or exports) is evaluated. Third, annual wages paid by lignite energy related industries will be compared to all industry wages in the state.