North Dakota mulls $1 million grant for mobile fertilizer plants

Updated: Thursday, August 16, 2012 10:10 AM

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- A New York company wants $1 million in North Dakota taxpayer aid to explore a proposal for mobile plants that turn natural gas into farm fertilizer.

The state Industrial Commission will consider the request next week.

About a third of the natural gas produced in North Dakota is burned off and wasted because the pipeline networks needed to move the gas haven't been built yet.

Natural gas is a byproduct of oil production. State officials are expecting big increases in natural gas output in the future.

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring is a member of the Industrial Commission.

He says project could reduce the amount of wasted gas while providing much-needed and lower-cost fertilizer for farmers.