Nonprofit · EIN 45-0321174
LIGNITE ENERGY COUNCIL
Tax-exempt · BISMARCK, ND 58502
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $3,890,405 | $3,273,712 | $616,693 | $4,854,751 | $287,532 | $4,567,219 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $5,583,322 | $5,596,451 | -$13,129 | $4,164,440 | $213,914 | $3,950,526 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $5,232,846 | $5,657,258 | -$424,412 | $4,463,114 | $499,459 | $3,963,655 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $0
- Program service revenue
- $3,784,811
- Investment income
- $105,594
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $2,341
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $1,162,813
- Other salaries and wages
- $492,103
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,730,569
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Travel
- $17,381
- Depreciation
- $92,826
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $4,164,440
- Total assets, end of year
- $4,854,751
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $287,532
- Net assets, end of year
- $4,567,219
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $434,623
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $4,567,219
- Gross receipts
- $3,890,405
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 0
- Year formed
- 1974
- State of legal domicile
- ND
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL J HOLMES | EXECUTIVE VP OF R&D Officer | 40 | $305,690 | $81,792 |
| JONATHAN FORTNER | PRESIDENT/CEO Officer | 40 | $252,639 | $72,602 |
| RACHELLE ANDERSON | VP OF FINANCE Officer | 40 | $123,156 | $50,081 |
| KAY LACOE | SENIOR VP OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Officer | 40 | $131,844 | $22,099 |
| JASON BOHRER | FORMER PRESIDENT/CEO Officer | 40 | $96,467 | $26,443 |
| ADAM VAN DOORNE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDY HAWBAKER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLIE GORECKI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS FRIEZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DONN STEFFEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| GARRET SENGER | PAST CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAY KOST | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JC BUTLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF HAMMES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIE PIERCE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
14 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUSTIN OSTGARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| KAI XIA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| MAC MCLENNAN | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 |
| MARK PETERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| MIKE HEGER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| PERRIE SCHAFER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| RYAN RAYDA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| STACY TSCHIDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| TIM ROGELSTAD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| TODD BRICKHOUSE | CHAIRMAN ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 |
| TRINITY TURNBOW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| TWYLAH BLOTSKY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| VALERIE WEIGEL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| WADE MANN | SECRETARY/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 28 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JASON BOHRER | PRESIDENT/CEO Officer | 40 | $311,795 | $79,933 |
| MICHAEL J HOLMES | VP OF R&D Officer | 40 | $300,769 | $76,711 |
| JONATHAN FORTNER | VP OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $165,662 | $53,890 |
| KAY LACOE | VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETIN Highest-paid employee | 40 | $111,881 | $47,453 |
| RACHELLE ANDERSON | OFFICE, FINANCE, AND BENEF Officer | 40 | $95,759 | $42,230 |
| DAVID ALLARD | DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIO Officer | 40 | $17,871 | $8,946 |
| BRYAN WALTHER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLIE GORECKI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS FRIEZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DALE JOHNSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAY KOST | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF HAMMES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| KAI XIA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MAC MCLENNAN | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE HEGER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TIM ROGELSTAD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TROY TWEETEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TWYLAH BLOTSKY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| WADE MANN | SECRETARY/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| STACEY TSCHIDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TODD BRICKHOUSE | CHAIRMAN ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIE PIERCE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| RYAN RAYDA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ADAM VAN DOORNE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| PERRIE SCHAFER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DONN STEFFEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| GARRET SENGER | PAST CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK PETERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 31 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JASON BOHRER | PRESIDENT/CEO Officer | 40 | $287,449 | $75,871 |
| MICHAEL J HOLMES | VP OF R&D Officer | 40 | $279,739 | $73,874 |
| JONATHAN FORTNER | VP OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $142,536 | $49,521 |
| DAVID ALLARD | DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $113,014 | $44,976 |
| KAY LACOE | VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETIN Highest-paid employee | 40 | $109,569 | $43,030 |
| RACHELLE ANDERSON | OFFICE, FINANCE, AND BENEF Officer | 40 | $102,679 | $42,745 |
| AL RUDECK | DIRECTOR - LEFT 6/30/23 Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BART ANDERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRENDEN BRINKMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN DAVEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRYAN WALTHER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLIE GORECKI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS FRIEZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DALE JOHNSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAY KOST | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF HAMMES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| KAI XIA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MAC MCLENNAN | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE HEGER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| NICOLE KIVISTO | PAST CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TIM ROGELSTAD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TROY TWEETEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TWYLAH BLOTSKY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| WADE MANN | SECRETARY/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| STACEY TSCHIDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TODD BRICKHOUSE | CHAIRMAN ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIE PIERCE | DIRECTOR- BEGAN 6/30/23 Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| RYAN RAYDA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JASON AUDETTE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ADAM VAN DOORNE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| PERRIE SCHAFER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 2277, BISMARCK, ND 58502-2277
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- JONATHAN FORTNER, 1016 E OWENS AVE, BISMARCK, ND 58503
- Signed the 990
- JONATHAN FORTNER, PRESIDENT & CEO
- Phone
- (701) 258-7117
- Website
- WWW.LIGNITE.COM
- Return prepared by
- BRADY MARTZ PLLC
Mission
THE LIGNITE ENERGY COUNCIL SHALL PROTECT, MAINTAIN, AND ENHANCE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR REGION'S ABUNDANT LIGNITE RESOURCE.
Program accomplishments
- EDUCATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAM TO KEEP THE PUBLIC AWARE OF AND EDUCATED AS TO THE RECLAMATION, MINING, AND ENERGY CONVERSION PROCESS OF LIGNITE RESOURCES, INCLUDING TEACHERS' SEMINARS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL EVENTS.
- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES ECONOMIC, EFFICIENT, AND CLEAN USES OF LIGNITE AND LIGNITE BY PRODUCTS. THIS IS DIVIDED INTO TWO SUBAREAS. ENHANCE, PRESERVE, AND PROTECT PAYS FOR STUDIES DONE BY THE EERC AND OTHERS. THIS INCLUDES A STUDY CONTRACTED WITH THE EERC FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF LIGNITE POWER PLANTS. THERE IS ALSO A GRANT FOR THE LRC TECHNICAL ADVISOR. THIS WAS RAN THROUGH THE LEC, THEN MOVED TO THE FOUNDATION IN 2024 THEN MOVED BACK TO THE LEC IN 2025.
- REGULATORY AND LITIGATION SUPPORT TO HELP THE STATE IN REGULATORY ISSUES INVOLVING MN AND THE EPA.
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 45-0321174
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(6): Business league or chamber of commerce
- Donations deductible
- No
- Exempt since
- 1974
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $4,854,751
- Income (IRS master file)
- $3,890,405
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $3,890,405 | $3,273,712 | $4,854,751 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $5,583,322 | $5,596,451 | $4,164,440 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $5,232,846 | $5,657,258 | $4,463,114 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $4,393,581 | $4,261,139 | $4,963,760 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 45-0321174).
Questions about LIGNITE ENERGY COUNCIL
- What is the EIN of LIGNITE ENERGY COUNCIL?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of LIGNITE ENERGY COUNCIL is 45-0321174.
- Is LIGNITE ENERGY COUNCIL tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(6) since 1974.
- Are donations to LIGNITE ENERGY COUNCIL tax-deductible?
- No. The IRS master file says contributions to it are not deductible.
- Which annual return does LIGNITE ENERGY COUNCIL file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of LIGNITE ENERGY COUNCIL due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did LIGNITE ENERGY COUNCIL last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of LIGNITE ENERGY COUNCIL?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names JONATHAN FORTNER.
- Who are the officers and directors of LIGNITE ENERGY COUNCIL?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 29 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $305,690 (MICHAEL J HOLMES, EXECUTIVE VP OF R&D).
- How much revenue does LIGNITE ENERGY COUNCIL have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $3,890,405, expenses of $3,273,712 and total assets of $4,854,751 at year end.
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