Energy & Industry – TheMinotVoice.com

Alberta Rethinks Well Cleanup Costs: Industry May Pay, Not Taxpayers

by: MinotVoice | April 5, 2025

Alberta is rethinking how it handles its growing backlog of inactive oil and gas wells—and this time, the public might not be left with the bill. A new version of a government-commissioned report recommends the province manage an industry-funded insurance program, rather than relying on taxpayer money for cleanup. It’s a shift that follows public

Read & Share sourced from: The Canadian Press

Trump halts historic orphaned well-plugging program

by: Josh Wolsky | April 1, 2025

A quiet success story out of North Dakota became the blueprint for one of the country’s most ambitious environmental cleanup efforts—plugging abandoned oil and gas wells. Backed by billions in federal funds, the program spread nationwide, cutting methane emissions and protecting water supplies. But now it’s been frozen by President Trump’s executive order, despite the

Read & Share sourced from: High Country News

Federal judge dismisses Standing Rock’s latest lawsuit over Dakota Access Pipeline

by: MinotVoice | March 29, 2025

A federal judge has dismissed the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s latest effort to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline, ruling that the tribe must wait until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes its long-delayed environmental impact study. Despite frustrations over years of inaction, Judge James Boasberg said the tribe cannot yet bring another legal

Read & Share sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Listen: Swedish government to lend companies billions for new nuclear reactors

by: MinotVoice | March 29, 2025

Sweden is preparing to make a major investment in nuclear energy, with the government and Sweden Democrats proposing a plan to help finance the construction of four new reactors. The state would lend companies SEK 300 billion to cover most of the estimated SEK 400 billion cost. While supporters see it as a step toward

Read & Share sourced from: Radio Sweden

Source Water Spill Impacts Cropland Near Glenburn

by: MinotVoice | March 25, 2025

A tank overflow in McHenry County led to the release of about 21,000 gallons of source water—salty, mineral-rich water drawn from underground—onto nearby cropland. The spill, reported by Murex Petroleum, occurred northeast of Glenburn on March 23. State environmental officials are now investigating and overseeing cleanup efforts. No immediate threats to drinking water have been

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Directors Cut: North Dakota Oil Activity Dips Slightly but Remains Above Forecast

by: Josh Wolsky | March 22, 2025

Each month, North Dakota Mineral Resources Director Nathan Anderson and Pipeline Authority Director Justin Kringstad release the “Director’s Cut,” offering a detailed look at the state’s oil and gas sector. The March 2025 update, covering January data, shows production dipped slightly but remains strong overall, with rig counts and prices offering a mixed outlook for

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BLM and ND Historic Preservation Office Sign Landmark Agreement to Streamline Cultural Resource Management

by: MinotVoice | March 17, 2025

BISMARCK, N.D. — The Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas and the North Dakota State Historic Preservation Office formally signed a landmark agreement on March 12 at the State Historical Society of North Dakota offices in Bismarck. The agreement establishes a structured and efficient framework for cultural resource management and streamlines compliance processes. “This agreement marks a

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Northern North Dakota farmers push back on bill that would allow study of nuclear waste

by: MinotVoice | March 15, 2025

As North Dakota lawmakers explore nuclear energy, a familiar challenge looms—what to do with the waste. Senate Bill 2159, which removes restrictions on nuclear waste research, passed the Senate with little opposition but is now facing pushback from farmers and environmental groups. The debate reflects a broader national struggle: while nuclear offers steady, low-carbon power,

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

North Dakota sees uptick in oil wells that qualify for tax exemption

by: MinotVoice | March 15, 2025

North Dakota’s oil boom once filled the state’s coffers, but the landscape is shifting. Nearly half of the state’s oil wells now qualify for a tax exemption designed for low-producing wells, cutting into tax revenue faster than lawmakers anticipated. Even if production picks up through new technology, those wells will keep their exemption under current

Read & Share sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

North Dakota’s Oil and Gas Industry Drives Record $48.8 Billion Economic Impact

by: MinotVoice | March 12, 2025

NDSU researcher Dean Bangsund joined Gov. Kelly Armstrong and North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness on Tuesday, March 11, to discuss the $48.8 billion economic impact of the oil and gas industry in the state. The press conference at the State Capitol in Bismarck highlighted findings from an NDSU study examining the

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Scientists Reveal Battery That Can Be Powered by Nuclear Waste

by: MinotVoice | March 11, 2025

Nuclear energy may be clean, but its radioactive waste remains a challenge. Now, researchers have found a way to repurpose that waste—by using it to power tiny batteries. A new study shows how gamma radiation from nuclear byproducts can generate electricity for microelectronics, a breakthrough that could lead to ultra-low-maintenance sensors. While still in its

Read & Share sourced from: Science Alert

Could geothermal power plants repurpose old North Dakota oil wells?

by: MinotVoice | March 9, 2025

North Dakota is sitting on a hidden power source—one that never runs out. A new bill moving through the state legislature could unlock geothermal energy by repurposing old oil and gas wells, turning them into continuous sources of clean electricity. Supporters say it’s a win-win: reliable energy, economic growth, and a step toward making North

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

Media petition North Dakota Supreme Court for expanded access to Greenpeace trial

by: MinotVoice | February 28, 2025

A trial involving the Dakota Access Pipeline is drawing significant attention as media organizations push for expanded access. Judge James Gion has restricted photography, video, and audio recording during the proceedings in Morton County, citing witness concerns. Media attorney Jack McDonald has filed a petition with the North Dakota Supreme Court for greater transparency, arguing

Read & Share sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Produced water spill reported in Williams County

by: MinotVoice | February 25, 2025

BISMARCK, N.D. – Enable Bakken Crude Services notified the North Dakota Department of Env ironmental Quality (NDDEQ) on Monday, Feb. 24, of a produced water spill approximately 7 miles southeast of Ray. Initial estimates from Enable indicate 670 barrels (28,140 gallons ) of produced water were released, some of which impacted agricultural land. Produced water,

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Nuclear power plant proposed near Estevan

by: MinotVoice | February 24, 2025

SaskPower is moving ahead with plans for a small modular reactor near Estevan, Saskatchewan, as part of its commitment to expand nuclear energy. While North Dakota legislators consider a study on similar developments, SaskPower has pinpointed the Boundary Dam and Rafferty Reservoir as promising sites. The utility aims to decide on final locations by early

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

In Iceland, Fuel Tax To Be Replaced With Mileage Tax

by: Josh Wolsky | February 20, 2025

Iceland is making a fundamental shift in how it taxes road use. The longstanding fuel tax will be replaced with a kilometre-based road tax, ensuring that all vehicles—electric, hybrid, and fuel-powered—pay based on distance driven. The government says this change is necessary to offset revenue losses from vehicle electrification and keep road funding sustainable. While

Read & Share sourced from: Reykjavik Grapevine