Bismarck State College will celebrate the dedication of its National Energy Center of Excellence at an open house andribbon-cutting on Monday. Ribbon-cutting for the $18.3-million building is at 9:15 a.m. The open house follows at 9:30 a.m.

Speaking at the event will be North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, Sen. Byron Dorgan, Rep. Earl Pomeroy, Basin Electric CEO Ron Harper, BSC President Larry Skogen, former BSC President Donna Thigpen and Patricia Hoffman, principal deputy assistant secretary with the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability at the U.S. Department of Energy

The building at 1200 Schafer St. was paid for with Centers of Excellence money, federal earmarks and donations from the energy sector and private individuals. The four-story building measures 106,200 square feet.

The building is used for the school's energy programs, continuing education, the Great Plains Energy Corridor and some administrative offices.

- Sara Kincaid