BELFIELD – The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled in favor of Meridian Energy Group’s Air Quality Permit suit last week, giving the company the right to complete construction of the Davis Refinery in western North Dakota.

The ruling is a major milestone for Meridian and for the industry, as the first greenfield, full-conversion refinery in the U.S. is more than 40 years will be completed, according to Meridian.

The refinery is being developed in Billings County on about 150 acres (and additional acreage for a buffer) east of the Fryburg Rail Facility in Belfield.

The court decision last week marks the end of the litigation process with respect to the Davis Refinery’s Permit to Construct issued in June 2018, after a rigorous 18 month review by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.

In issuing the permit, the N.D. Department of Environmental Quality found that the emissions from the Davis Refinery would be substantially below stringent federal standards, and would be monitored to such an extent that the refinery qualified as a Synthetic Minor Synthetic Source. This finding, now confirmed by the North Dakota Supreme Court, was a first for a full-conversion refinery and was hailed as “historic” by major industry commentators, according to Merdian Energy Group information.

“The Department appreciates the collaborative approach Meridian has taken throughout the entire process. Our primary evaluation criteria remain that our partners follow the science and the law, and Meridian demonstrated leadership in both areas. The people of North Dakota demand these virtues in all our actions, and they should accept nothing less,” said David Glatt, director of the N.D. Department of Environmental Quality.

William Prentice, CEO & chairman of Meridian, said, “Meridian is thankful for the Court’s decision in this matter. This decision is a major milestone in continuing Meridian’s mission – to develop the cleanest and smartest refineries on the planet – and making it a reality. The Davis design that is the basis for the PTC (Permit to Construct) will result in Davis having total emissions of one-eighth of industry average, and less than one-half of the industry’s GHG (greenhouse gases) emissions. If one half of the refining industry in the United States were converted or replaced with Meridian technology the industry would show a reduction of 88 million tons of GHG per year!”

Established in 2013, Meridian has offices in Belfield, Houston, Texas, and Irvine, California. Refinery developments are under way in North Dakota ad Texas.