NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) —  The clock is ticking toward Election Day, and there's one question on the minds of North Dakota's energy producers: which way is the political pendulum going to swing? With growing concerns over EPA regulations, industry leaders are mobilizing at the Lignite Energy Council's annual meeting during its 50th anniversary. "There is a growing recognition that Congress is broken," said Jason Bohrer, the CEO and president of Lignite Energy Council, "because legislators aren't changing the law. The law is being changed from the top-down by regulators in Washington, D.C. There is no public accountability. Voters can't change that at the ballot box." For the past year, the council has worked tirelessly to fight federal legislation looking to regulate emissions produced from North Dakota's coal and gas industry. They even filed a petition in June against the new MATS rule, which requires a 70% reduction in energy emissions. "The system itself is no longer serving the best interest of the industry," said Bohrer, "because it's ignoring the whole economic impact and sustainability story we've been able to tell today." At this year's conference, energy leaders came together to discuss ways to ensure domestic energy security — despite the industry's recent economic and political challenges. MHA Nation to host Fall Festival and Rib Cook-off "We're able to provide updates on maybe what's going on in the legislative process," said Bohrer, "and when people leave, they might have ideas on how to talk to their neighbors, to their family, to their elected officials and policymakers and be able to change those public policy decisions that are impacting the industry." Bohrer says the conference has come full circle in its 50 years of existence when the council was first created in the '70s to fight America's energy crisis. And once again, the council and industry heads are finding themselves fighting against federal regulations. "A lot of the issues are echoes from previous years," said Bohrer, "because we continue to deal with — how do you deal with changing economic conditions? How do you deal with regulations coming out of Washington, D.C.?" The conference runs throughout Thursday afternoon, and council members hope people attending will walk away with the knowledge they need to be the change. "People's priorities remain the same," said Bohrer, "which is clean, sustainable, affordable, reliable electricity." Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW