Students from Bismarck State College (BSC) stepped out of the classroom and onto a TC Energy compressor station in Saint Anthony, North Dakota, for a close‑up look at the energy infrastructure that powers the state’s communities.
Why the tour matters
The visit comes as U.S. natural‑gas capacity has risen 39% since 2022, according to the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America’s 2025 Midstream Infrastructure Report. By bringing students directly to a working plant, the tour highlights the expanding job market in the energy sector and reinforces the state’s effort to keep young talent at home.
Local voices on the plant
Kent Morrell, a fourth‑generation North Dakotan who works for TC Energy, said the experience is special because the pipelines run across his family’s property. “Working here has been just a great experience, being able to work with the community I grew up in and providing energy to the community I grew up in,” Morrell told the students.
Andrew Moseman, a BSC student, explained his interest in the field: “I have a lot of family and friends that are in it. It typically pays good money, so the whole idea of producing electricity is really interesting. I mean you’re basically just making magic.”
Academic perspective
Associate Professor Howell Flowers, who leads BSC’s energy‑technology program, noted the shift in employment patterns. “When I went through the program, it was easy. They were building all of the power plants in North Dakota and then for many years they had to go out of state to find a job, not so much anymore. There’s plenty of jobs in the state,” Flowers said.
Flowers added that hands‑on experiences like this tour help bridge classroom learning with real‑world opportunities, encouraging students to consider long‑term careers in the state’s energy sector.
State support for local talent
Governor Kelly Armstrong has emphasized keeping North Dakota graduates in‑state after they finish school, and initiatives such as this plant tour align with that goal. Morrell echoed the sentiment, saying, “You may even find opportunities you didn’t even know you were interested in until you read about them. The amount of doors that are to be opened here are endless.”
Organizers of the tour stressed that exposing young people to the industry is essential for sustaining the workforce needed as the sector continues to expand.
Looking ahead
With natural‑gas infrastructure growing and the state’s energy jobs offering solid pay and security, the partnership between BSC, TC Energy and state officials aims to ensure that the next generation of North Dakotans can build rewarding careers without leaving home.
Original reporting: KFYR-TV Bismarck (news) — read the source article.
