North Dakota Ag Connection - MDU Invest $13.8M in Natural Gas Pipeline for Bobcat

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MDU Invest $13.8M in Natural Gas Pipeline for Bobcat
North Dakota Ag Connection - 09/22/2017

Gov. Doug Burgum Thursday joined officials from Bobcat Co. and Montana-Dakota Utilities (MDU) to celebrate the announcement of a new pipeline that will supply the Bobcat factory in Gwinner with reliable natural gas service for years to come.

Construction of the $13.8 million pipeline project is scheduled to start next spring, with an expected in-service date of September 2018. The 21-mile pipeline will extend from the Alliance pipeline near Milnor to the Bobcat facility in Gwinner and could expand to other customers along the route. Bobcat, a Doosan company which makes skid-steer loaders and other compact equipment, signed a 15-year contract with MDU to build the pipeline and provide natural gas transportation service.

"This is a milestone," Burgum said. "It's exciting to see Doosan Bobcat step up with the 15-year contract. That gives so much confidence in terms of recruiting people, talent and capital to our area. And MDU is supporting economic growth and job creation through its commitment to smart, efficient infrastructure, a pillar of our administration's Main Street Initiative."

The North Dakota Industrial Commission, chaired by Burgum, approved $10.5 million in debt financing for the project through the Bank of North Dakota's match program for economic development.

"This project represents people in North Dakota working together to get things done, because when we help Bobcat be more competitive, that helps not only this community but all the communities around it," Burgum said. "This is really a story about entrepreneurship, innovation and teamwork."

Burgum expressed his gratitude for everyone involved in the effort, including the companies, members of North Dakota's congressional delegation and state Public Service Commission, and former Gov. Jack Dalrymple, who was lieutenant governor when the effort began more than a decade ago and played an integral role.

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