North Dakota's Kalk Selected as New Clean-Coal Subcommittee Chair

For Immediate Release: January 12, 2015
Contact: Robert J. Thormeyer, 202-898-9382, rthormeyer@naruc.org

WASHINGTON—National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners President Lisa Edgar of Florida appointed Commissioner Brian Kalk of North Dakota to lead the Association’s Subcommittee on Clean Coal and Carbon Sequestration.

Commissioner Kalk, formerly vice chair of the subcommittee, replaces outgoing Subcommittee Chair Jon McKinney of West Virginia, who recently retired from the West Virginia Public Service Commission. President Edgar also appointed Commissioner Asim Haque of Ohio as the subcommittee’s Vice Chair.

The Subcommittee on Clean Coal and Carbon Sequestration is an affiliate of NARUC’s Committee of Electricity. As demand grows for cleaner sources of fuel, the Clean Coal and Carbon Sequestration Subcommittee explores ways to promote the use of lower-emission coal. This Subcommittee helps educate NARUC members on the issues surrounding coal usage and new developments for carbon sequestration and storage.

“As State economic regulators, our chief priorities are the safe, reliable, and affordable delivery of utility services,” said President Edgar. “We must make sure all fuels are utilized as safely and efficiently as possible, and that reliability of the grid is maintained. This Subcommittee will give our members opportunities to share best practices and determine whether and how clean-coal projects make sense for their State. I also wish to thank Commissioner McKinney for his steadfast leadership of this committee and his service to West Virginia ratepayers.”

Commissioner Kalk was first elected to the North Dakota Public Service Commission in November 2008, and was recently reelected to a second term. He is a member of NARUC’s Committee on Electricity. Prior to joining the PSC, Commissioner Kalk served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was deployed all over the globe. He served in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. In addition, he received a Doctorate in Natural Resource Management from North Dakota State University.

“These are complex times in the regulated utility industry,” said Commissioner Kalk. “NARUC and this committee will play key roles in educating our membership on the costs and benefits of clean-coal technologies. To meet our nation’s electricity demand, we need an all-of-the-above energy policy. I look forward to working with my colleagues and building upon Commissioner McKinney’s strong record.”