Another First for North Dakota?

Not yet, but someday North Dakota might claim another first.

Ninety (90) percent of potash used in America comes from mines in western Canada.

It turns out that North Dakota may have 50 billion tons of potash in the same area as the current oil boom, the northwestern corner of the state. These deposits are less than 150 miles south of the potash mines in Canada.

Yesterday, August 18, 2010, the Williston Herald reported that a Denver-based company was granted a permit to mine potash in North Dakota. This is the first potash permit granted in more than 30 years. This story was in the print edition of the Herald; I couldn't find an on-line source to link.

Here's an old February, 2009, press release, and the website.

Dakota Salts LLC has also received a grant to study whether it is feasible to store compressed air for electricity-generating wind farms once the potash is removed.

The company will also explore the possibility of storing carbon dioxide in these mines.

It's a long way off, but if 90 percent of potash used in the US comes from Canada, there can't be many other states mining potash.

Wouldn't it be interesting if North Dakota could add another first to its list of firsts?