![\"MasonTisa2\"](\"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/MasonTisa2-300x202.jpg\")
Update…<\/p>\nUpdate…<\/p>\n
Valley City (CSi-VCSU)\u00a0 North Dakota University System staff continue to monitor legislative activity very carefully, and a summary is provided via a conference call with Chancellor Mark Hagerott and university presidents.<\/p>\n President Mason and available Cabinet members participate in these calls weekly.<\/p>\n The legislative tracking can be found on the NDUS intranet at inside.ndus.edu\/legislative (log in with your NDUS account information to access the information).<\/p>\n Note that no new legislation will be introduced after today, Monday, Jan. 23.<\/p>\n President Mason will be traveling to Bismarck to testify in favor of Senate Bill 2196 before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m. This bill would authorize the issuance of revenue bonds to pursue an activated carbon plant, which would integrate with VCSU\u2019s new heat plant.<\/p>\n VCSU, in collaboration with the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota, is pursuing an innovative carbon plant addition to the heat plant.<\/p>\n The carbon plant would burn North Dakota lignite coal and biomass in a clean process to produce fuel for the heat plant, while at the same time producing valuable activated carbon byproducts.<\/p>\n In addition to establishing an independent revenue stream, the carbon plant would offer research opportunities for students and faculty members. The plant would also have a positive environmental impact with its clean-burn technology and the extensive use of the activated carbon products as filters for air and water.<\/p>\n Note that the VCSU Activated Carbon Project Advisory Team is also looking at alternative funding sources, including privatization.<\/p>\n The VCSU Activated Carbon Project Advisory Team includes:
\n\u2022 Steve Benson, Associate VP for Research, Energy and Environmental Research Center, UND
\n\u2022 Nick Hacker, State Board of Higher Education
\n\u2022 Lonnie Laffen, CEO, JLG Architects
\n\u2022 Michael Mann, Executive Director, Institute for Energy Studies, UND
\n\u2022 Tisa Mason, President, VCSU
\n\u2022 Larry Robinson, Executive Director, VCSU Foundation
\n\u2022 Ed Schafer, 30th Governor of North Dakota
\n\u2022 Mike Seifert, CEO, Aurora Borealis Dakota
\n\u2022 Delton Steele, Regional President, U.S. Bank
\n\u2022 Greg Stemen, State Board of Higher Education
\n\u2022 Rick Tonder, Facility Planning Director, NDUS
\n\u2022 Wesley Wintch, VP for Business Affairs, VCSU<\/p>\n