North Dakota's energy economy, along with agriculture, forms the backbone of our state's economy. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, North Dakota is the number two state for crude oil production and possesses the "single largest deposit of lignite [coal] in the world."

The industry supports tens of thousands of jobs both directly in the extraction and production of raw energy materials – oil and coal – and in the ancillary jobs that supply the needs of the businesses and workers.

Renewable energy is also a large part of North Dakota's energy economy. With our near constant wind, we are the number five producer of wind energy and wind-powered electricity is the second largest electricity source after coal. The Garrison Dam on the Missouri River is our state's only hydro-electric plant, and it produces roughly 5 percent of our electricity needs. The state also produces 490 million gallons of ethanol per year and 85 million gallons of biodiesel, both in the top ten among the states.

Harnessing North Dakota's abundant natural resources has led to widespread prosperity through good-paying jobs, low unemployment and rising wages.

Congressman Armstrong is an advocate for all of North Dakota's energy producers in Congress. He's fighting for pro-growth policies that will help North Dakota's energy economy continue to prosper for years to come. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, he serves on the Energy subcommittee where he can advance North Dakota's energy priorities.