Optimism is not necessarily associated with North Dakota. For generations the state's economic fate and population losses have been determined by forces outside the state - forces over which state leaders had no control.
But something changed in the last decade, and the optimism borne of that change was reflected last week in Gov. John Hoeven's State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature. Hoeven's upbeat assessment was more than happy talk from a politician. It was a substantive, reality-based vision for a North Dakota that has the resources, know-how and focus to set its own course in an exciting and competitive global marketplace.
The governor touched on several topics, but the major theme was his recognition and embrace of the convergence of agriculture and energy. The two bedrock factors in North Dakota's economy are becoming one, as new technologies promise unlimited supplies of renewable energy from corn, grasses and other crops.
Additionally, startling advances in coal burning and gasification hold the potential to add new value to the state's vast lignite reserves. Again, convergence is the theme - this time as traditional energy-generation companies partner with or develop their own renewable capacities, often on common sites.
The governor's address covered other topics, but the thread pulling the fabric together was his emphasis on a new era of energy/agriculture convergence. His optimism was not political showmanship. It was a genuine and justified belief that North Dakota is poised to develop an economy that is stable and sustainable in a global energy market that for decades will rely on a mix of traditional and renewable fuels.
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