BNI COAL history

1950 Noonan, ND Operating as Baukol-Noonan, Inc., the company begins mining near Noonan, N.D.

1965 Leases Acquired Baukol-Noonan acquires coal leases covering 15,000 acres near Center, N.D., from Minnkota Power Cooperative, a Grand Forks supplier of electricity to 13 rural electric cooperatives in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota.

1970 Supplying Young Station Mining begins at the Center mine, supplying about 1.5 million tons of lignite a year to Minnkota Power's Milton R. Young Station.

1977 Production Doubles The Center mine production increases more than twofold to fuel a second generating unit at the Young Station, the Square Butte unit, which supplies electricity to Minnkota Power and Minnesota Power Company, a northern Minnesota electric utility with headquarters in Duluth.

1986 3.4 Million Tons The Center mine delivers 3.4 million tons of lignite to the Young Station.

2012 New Construction Construction of a new shop and wash bay were completed at the Center Mine.

2014 New Mining Area New mining Area C (an additional 8,500 acres) was approved by the Public Service Commission and work began to prepare area for active mining.

2016 Facilities Expansion Center Mine facilities expansion and remodel are completed.