Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., will give his remarks at Monday's energy expo in Bismarck on how to make North Dakota a leader in energy production.

Dorgan will give a speech at the second annual Great Plains Energy Expo at the Bismarck Civic Center at 9 a.m. Other speakers include billionaire T. Boone Pickens and the directors of the Sandia and Oak Ridge national laboratories.

Dorgan said three steps need to be taken, including more pipeline and transmission capacity to move the energy North Dakota produces to market.

He also wants to see more clean coal technology and refining capacity, adding the United States needs energy independence so that it can decrease its use of foreign oil.

"(Foreign oil) holds us hostage to trouble in the rest of the world," Dorgan said.

The event is open to the public.

- Brian Duggan