Guest column: A conservative Gid+ strategy for the AI

Opinion by Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, North Dakota Public Service Commission

August 13, 2025 at 8:25 AM

Original link: https://www.inforum.com/opinion/letters/guest-column-a-conservative-gid-strategy-for-the-ai

As artificial intelligence reshapes our economy and energy demand climbs faster than ever, North Dakota is ready. We’re not afraid of the future, we’re powering it.

North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Sheri Haugen-Hoffart Contributed

That’s why I applaud Energy Secretary Chris Wright for stating what too many still deny: global energy poverty poses a far greater threat to human wellbeing than climate change. Reliable, affordable electricity, not ideological mandates, is what truly empowers opportunity.

The U.S. Department of Energy recently released A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate, led by independent experts including Drs. John Christy and Ross McKitrick (energy.gov). Their findings reinforce what many of us have long believed: CO₂ induced warming may be less economically catastrophic than often claimed, and aggressive decarbonization policies risk doing more harm than good, particularly when they disrupt the energy affordability and reliability American families rely on.

Keep the power on

Our first responsibility is to protect the existing grid. That means preserving reliable, dispatchable generation, natural gas, coal, hydroelectricity, wind and solar, and halting the premature retirement of vital assets. North Dakota has long led in this area, balancing energy production with reliability.

DOE review also calls for national standards for resource adequacy. We must ensure that every region of the country, especially rural areas like ours, has reliable, resilient access to power.

Make it work smarter

There’s untapped power in the infrastructure we already have. By investing in advanced transmission technologies and more innovative grid management, we can move more electricity over existing lines. And with smart partnerships, especially with AI-driven industries, we can incentivize flexible usage to ease peak demand and prevent blackouts.

Build a smarter, stronger grid

Secretary Wright is right: America must expand and modernize the grid to meet future demand. That means new investments in nuclear, enhanced geothermal, and other dispatchable resources, without falling into the trap of politicized, one-size-fits-all mandates. We must also reform energy markets to reflect reality: reliability matters as much as innovation.

Why conservative leadership matters

In North Dakota, our Public Service Commission has long advocated for common-sense, pro-growth regulation. We know that heavy-handed policies can stall investment, raise utility bills and reduce grid reliability.

As one of your Public Service Commissioners, I have prioritized practical, data-driven solutions that ensure our energy economy remains both competitive and secure. That means lower bills, a reliable grid and more opportunities for North Dakota workers and families.

North Dakota is already seeing the benefits of this approach, including new AI and data center developments, drawn here by abundant energy, strong infrastructure, and sound policy. That is no accident, it is the result of conservative leadership of the Public Service Commission and regulatory clarity.

As the DOE climate review confirms, we must stay focused on what works. Innovation, not panic, will power the next generation. Let us lead with vision, not fear.

We’re not here to manage decline, we’re here to build the future, with North Dakota leading the way.

Sheri Haugen-Hoffart was appointed to the Public Service Commission in February 2022 by then-Gov. Doug Burgum and confirmed by the voters in November 2022.