According to the Bismarck Tribune, a Renewable Fuels Action Summit begins today.  Problems like climate change and its effects on energy production, switching from fossil fuels to renewable fuels, and economic impacts will be discussed.  The keynote speaker is Dr. Steve Chu, a Nobel Prize co-winner in the area of physics.

If, as Dr. Chu predicts, about 50 percent of the nation’s energy supply should come from renewable fuels in the next twenty years, North Dakota could see some major upheaval.  Currently most of our energy production comes from oil and coal, although wind energy and ethanol production play a part.  From the article:

As for the states whose industries are dependent on producing coal and oil, Chu said he agreed that change would affect jobs. The question, he said, is whether they could be replaced by the renewables industry.

“In the end, does it really serve people that well, to try to cling to something that’s dying?” he said. “In the end, you’re doing yourself a disservice.”

Because this could potentially affect jobs in the energy industry in North Dakota, this could be a topic to watch.