NORTH DAKOTA LIGNITE ENERGY INDUSTRY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE ECONOMY FOR 2007 AND PROJECTED FOR 2008

A survey of firms involved in lignite mining and/or conversion resulted in estimates of their expenditures to in-state entities. An input-output model was applied to estimate secondary and total impacts of the direct expenditures. Direct expenditures totaled $806.8 million for 2007 and were estimated at $995.4 million for 2008. The total (direct plus secondary) contribution to the North Dakota economy was estimated to be $2.4 billion for 2007 and $2.8 billion for 2008. State tax revenues resulting from industry activities totaled $89 million in 2007, and industry direct employment totaled 3,882. In addition, economic activity resulting from the industry was estimated to support more than 21,000 jobs in other sectors of the state economy.