About BNI Coal - History

BNI Coal Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLETE (NYSE-ALE), owns and operates the Center Mine near Center, North Dakota. BNI Coal's surface mine supplies lignite coal to fuel the nearby Milton R. Young steam electric Generating Station, Units I and II.

In 1930, Harris M. Baukol, his brothers and L.L. Monson formed Baukol-Noonan Lignite, Inc. and Noonan Holding Company. The companies began mining near Noonan, North Dakota. In 1949, the businesses were assumed by a successor company, Baukol-Noonan, Inc. Operations at the Center mine began in 1970.

In 1988, Baukol-Noonan was purchased by Minnesota Power Company currently known as (ALLETE). Baukol-Noonan changed its name to BNI Coal Ltd. and relocated its headquarters to Bismarck, North Dakota.

Today, BNI mines about 4.5 million tons of lignite coal annually, supplying both units of the Young Station. The mining process disturbs and reclaims approximately 210 acres per year. And with reserves of 600 million tons, BNI has ample capacity to expand production.

80 Year Timeline

BNI's rich history stretches back over 70 years. Explore the timeline below to view our evolution into one of North Dakota's lowest cost producer(s) of lignite coal.

1930	Harris M. Baukol, his brothers and L.L. Monson form Baukol-Noonan Lignite, Inc. and Noonan Holding Company.
1949	Baukol-Noonan, Inc. is incorporated, selling all its capital stock to North Dakotans.
1950	Operating as Baukol-Noonan, Inc., the company begins mining near Noonan, N.D.
1965	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	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	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	The Center mine delivers 3.4 million tons of lignite to the Young Station. Mining ceases at the Noonan mine.
1988	Baukol-Noonan purchased by Minnesota Power continues as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Duluth based firm, changing its name to BNI Coal, Ltd. and relocating its headquarters to Bismarck, N.D.
1992	BNI Coal produces a record 4.3 million tons of lignite for the Young Station whose two generating units are commended for having the second lowest production cost of 798 coal, nuclear, oil or gas fueled U.S. power plants.
1996	BNI sets another production record of 4.528 million tons of lignite coal.
1999	As a final accomplishment of the twentieth century, BNI breaks it's 1996 production record.
2000	BNI sells 100 millionth ton from Center Mine in October.
2002	BNI sets yet another production record of 4.599 million tons of lignite coal.
2004	BNI commissions a new Bucyrus 8200 dragline.
2009	BNI was given the ND Soil Conservation Achievement Award for Oliver County.