Mike Holmes
Republican · ND
Grand Forks energy researcher who is executive vice president for research and development at the Lignite Energy Council after more than 25 years in energy technology, including at UND's Energy and Environmental Research Center.
Where Mike Holmes stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (2 records)
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (1 record)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 2 support
On June 11, 2026, the University of North Dakota's Energy & Environmental Research Center named Mike Holmes its 14th Energy Champion, citing his lead invention of an EERC mercury-control technology used by utilities to reduce mercury emissions.
June 11, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: blog.undeerc.org
On November 10, 2009, Michael J. Holmes and three colleagues at the University of North Dakota's Energy & Environmental Research Center received a U.S. patent for a method that cuts mercury pollution from coal-fired plants (patent 7,615,101).
November 10, 2009Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: patents.google.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 oppose
On January 13, 2021, Mike Holmes testified to the North Dakota Senate Appropriations Committee in support of continued state funding for the lignite coal research program he directed. The program gets about $8.5 million each two-year budget from coal severance taxes (Senate Bill 2014).
January 13, 2021Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: ndlegis.gov
Track record — General
General · 6 records
On June 11, 2026, the University of North Dakota's Energy & Environmental Research Center reported that Mike Holmes spent 15 years at Babcock & Wilcox working on coal-related research, development, and commercial projects.
June 11, 2026
Source: blog.undeerc.org
On May 4, 2026, Governor Kelly Armstrong endorsed Mike Holmes for North Dakota House District 43 as part of his first round of endorsements ahead of the Republican primary.
May 4, 2026
Source: hegerfornd.com
On April 2, 2026, the Grand Forks Herald reported that the District 43 Republican Party endorsed Mike Holmes and Jill Chandler for the North Dakota House.
April 2, 2026
Source: grandforksherald.com
On March 10, 2026, the Lignite Energy Council said Mike Holmes had helped guide research initiatives and advance carbon-management, emissions-control, and new-lignite-utilization projects during his tenure as its research-and-development executive.
March 10, 2026
Source: lignite.com
On May 23, 2022, Mike Holmes, identified in North Dakota Industrial Commission minutes as Lignite Research Program Director and Industrial Commission Technical Advisor, presented Lignite Research Council grant recommendations; the Commission then approved an $850,000 Semplastics lignite research project.
May 23, 2022
Source: ndic.nd.gov
On January 18, 2019, the Lignite Energy Council reported that Mike Holmes briefed its directors on an Energy & Environmental Research Center study of value-added products from North Dakota lignite and described potential synthetic-graphite and rare-earth-element markets.
January 18, 2019
Source: lignite.com
Past race Mike Holmes ran in:
- State Representative · November 3, 2026 · State House District 43; North Dakota