Hoeven SenWashington (CSi) U.S. Senator John Hoeven is continuing to solicit financing support for the planned CHS nitrogen fertilizer plant at Spiritwood.

Hoeven met last week with U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to promote a $1 billion loan guarantee for CHS through the Advanced Fossil Energy program.

Plans for the plant have been on hold since April when CHS announced costs of construction and operation exceeded earlier estimates. The plant’s total costs are estimated at about $2 billion making the project the largest in North Dakota if constructed.

Hoeven says the plant converts Bakken natural gas into ammonia fertilizer, reducing the need to import farm fertilizer. Because of the plant’s innovative plan it is anticipated to reduce CO2 emissions by 592,000 tons per year.

Construction of the plant is anticipated to generate about 2,000 jobs with 180 long-term jobs during operations.