Rob and Jay talk about the recent story about workers, fearful of coronavirus, walking out of their jobs at a Fargo business. Was that story fairly reported?

To hear Ladd Erickson tell it, when Coal Creek Station was built the justification for constructing the power transmission line that services it across acres and acres of prime North Dakota farmland (to the consternation of many farmers at the time) was that the coal plant would generate economic activity.

Erickson is the State's Attorney for McLean County, and he believes that if Great River Energy wants to shut down and deconstruct their coal power plant, then they ought to take down their power line too and return the land it's using to farmers.

"North Dakota has no economic interested in the power line," he said on this episode of Plain Talk.

Coal Creek is North Dakota's largest coal-fired power plant. Great River Energy has said they want to find a buyer for the plant, but if they can't they will shut it down in two years.

"We hope they're sincere in this effort to sell the plant," Erickson told me, but added that he doesn't believe they can.

That transmission line that serves Coal Creek is extremely valuable. It serves the Minnesota market and, if the coal plant is shut down, could be used to transport power generated by wind turbines, but Erickson doesn't believe Great River should get to do that.

"The power plant, the mine, and the power line is all one piece of infrastructure," he says, noting the project was regulated that way when it was built and should be treated that way now, too.

To hear Ladd Erickson tell it, when Coal Creek Station was built the justification for constructing the power transmission line that services it across acres and acres of prime North Dakota farmland (to the consternation of many farmers at the time) was that the coal plant would generate economic activity.

Erickson is the State's Attorney for McLean County, and he believes that if Great River Energy wants to shut down and deconstruct their coal power plant, then they ought to take down their power line too and return the land it's using to farmers.

"North Dakota has no economic interested in the power line," he said on this episode of Plain Talk.

Coal Creek is North Dakota's largest coal-fired power plant. Great River Energy has said they want to find a buyer for the plant, but if they can't they will shut it down in two years.

"We hope they're sincere in this effort to sell the plant," Erickson told me, but added that he doesn't believe they can.

That transmission line that serves Coal Creek is extremely valuable. It serves the Minnesota market and, if the coal plant is shut down, could be used to transport power generated by wind turbines, but Erickson doesn't believe Great River should get to do that.

"The power plant, the mine, and the power line is all one piece of infrastructure," he says, noting the project was regulated that way when it was built and should be treated that way now, too.

"Opening up our own economy is not enough," Dr. Jeremy Jackson, head of North Dakota State University's Center for the Study of Public Choice and Private Enterprise, said on this episode of Plain Talk. "We need other places to open up."

Jackson is the author of a new forecast for North Dakota's economy which has some grim findings. During the interview, he notes that North Dakota is an export state. Our primary industries produce goods which are then sold outside of the state, and often outside of the country.

Without that outside demand, it's going to be hard for North Dakota's economy to recover.

What can state policymakers do to address this situation? "I don't know what policy can get us out of this mess we're in," he said.

"We need some contingency plans," he added.

"Opening up our own economy is not enough," Dr. Jeremy Jackson, head of North Dakota State University's Center for the Study of Public Choice and Private Enterprise, said on this episode of Plain Talk. "We need other places to open up."

Jackson is the author of a new forecast for North Dakota's economy which has some grim findings. During the interview, he notes that North Dakota is an export state. Our primary industries produce goods which are then sold outside of the state, and often outside of the country.

Without that outside demand, it's going to be hard for North Dakota's economy to recover.

What can state policymakers do to address this situation? "I don't know what policy can get us out of this mess we're in," he said.

"We need some contingency plans," he added.

A one-two punch from the coronavirus pandemic, as well as a price war in the international oil markets, has hit North Dakota hard.

Thousands are losing their jobs. Oil production in the state is tanking, and tax revenues are sure to follow.

The latter of the two just-mentioned causes for this was kicked off, in part, by Saudi Arabia. On this episode of Plain Talk Fahad Nazer, spokesman for the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington D.C., talks to North Dakotans about his country's approach the oil markets.

"We don't engage in policies to attack other sectors or other country's economies," Nazer said.

A one-two punch from the coronavirus pandemic, as well as a price war in the international oil markets, has hit North Dakota hard.

Thousands are losing their jobs. Oil production in the state is tanking, and tax revenues are sure to follow.

The latter of the two just-mentioned causes for this was kicked off, in part, by Saudi Arabia. On this episode of Plain Talk Fahad Nazer, spokesman for the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington D.C., talks to North Dakotans about his country's approach the oil markets.

"We don't engage in policies to attack other sectors or other country's economies," Nazer said.

"I don't know how he could have handled it better."

That's what Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk in praise of Governor and fellow Republican Doug Burgum's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak in North Dakota.

Cramer has also praised President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis. "His actions have demonstrated federalism," the Senator said, referencing Trump's preference that state's take the lead in responding to the virus. Though Cramer acknowledged that Trump's federalism is more apparent in his actions than his words, with the President at times suggesting his office has unlimited power over the country.

The Senator also touched on coronavirus relief efforts, his intention to ensure that oil and gun companies in particular are treated fairly by relief policies, as well as the situation around Coal Creek Station in central North Dakota.

"I don't know how he could have handled it better."

That's what Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk in praise of Governor and fellow Republican Doug Burgum's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak in North Dakota.

Cramer has also praised President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis. "His actions have demonstrated federalism," the Senator said, referencing Trump's preference that state's take the lead in responding to the virus. Though Cramer acknowledged that Trump's federalism is more apparent in his actions than his words, with the President at times suggesting his office has unlimited power over the country.

The Senator also touched on coronavirus relief efforts, his intention to ensure that oil and gun companies in particular are treated fairly by relief policies, as well as the situation around Coal Creek Station in central North Dakota.

Jason Bohrer is President of the Lignite Energy Council, an industry group representing coal interests in North Dakota.

His group made a move about, you guessed it, coal.

"You get 50 miles outside those coal mines, people don't know much about them," he said, referring to the coal operations in central North Dakota. "What they do know they get from flawed sources."

On May 1, at CoalMovie.com, the Lignite folks are releasing a roughly 30-minute film about the history of coal in North Dakota. What it meant in the past, and what it means going forward.

Jason also talked about the fraught politics around coal power today, especially with the news that North Dakota's large coal-fired power plant may be closing. "It used to be Republicans and Democrats could sit in a room and talk about energy and there would be friends of coal on both sides," Jason said. "It's not like that anymore."

"There are very few people talking about long-term," Jason continued.

"The future is more in doubt now than it was five years ago."