With highly successful new developments in North Dakota oil production, it makes good sense to explore all options regarding a new refinery here. We have formed a task force to do so.

Currently, North Dakota produces more oil than it refines - over twice, in fact. There is only one refinery in the state, located in Mandan. Keeping more of this resource here could create many positive opportunities for our state.

One possible option is that the state could invest in such a venture. This refinery could be fully state-vested or built as a private-public partnership. North Dakota has a very successful state-owned bank and mill. In this time of new North Dakota oil discovery and high national energy demands, a state-invested refinery could have similar results.

In addition, we are looking at more options. Further incentives for a fully private refinery like the Mandan facility will be analyzed, too.

During the last harvest season, a fuel shortage plagued many of our farmers. At that time, North Dakotans were paying the highest fuel prices in the continental United States. Another oil refinery here could have helped the situation.

Presently, our state is seeing frequent new oil discoveries. Drilling rigs have been popping up all across western North Dakota. Experts have said the Bakken shale formation holds tremendous amounts of petroleum. Also, the Williston Basin is only 30 to 40 percent developed, compared with Texas.

North Dakota will have tremendous future opportunities to provide forms of energy that will drive our economy. There has not been a domestic refinery built in nearly 30 years. A new North Dakota refinery would help reduce America's dependence on foreign energy. Currently, our country imports two-thirds of its energy.

With the highly successful new developments in North Dakota oil production, discussion about a new North Dakota oil refinery just makes good sense. This facility could benefit our state and country. Our task force will look at all options regarding this venture.

(Both Onstad and Meyer are Democrats and state representatives. - Editor)