North Dakota – Page 5 – TheMinotVoice.com

Dakota Access helps drillers but isn’t a Bakken game-changer

by: Josh Wolsky | October 16, 2017

The Dakota Access Pipeline has been online since June, and early indicators suggest that it’s reduced the cost of delivering North Dakota oil to market and added revenue to the state’s tax collections. But is it a game changer for the Bakken play? According to this Washington Post article featured in the Grand Forks Herald,

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Enbridge pushes back on need for Line 3 oil pipeline replacement in Minnesota

by: Josh Wolsky | October 16, 2017

Few infrastructure developments are more contentious these days than oil pipeline projects. We’ve had our own battles here in North Dakota, but in Minnesota getting pipelines approved is more difficult yet. But with regards to the Line 3 Pipeline from NE North Dakota to Superior Wisconsin, Enbridge is pushing back against regulatory slowplaying with facts

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

After Hurricane Power Outages, Looking To Alaska’s Microgrids For A Better Way

by: Josh Wolsky | October 16, 2017

If there’s anything we’ve learned from this year’s hurricane’s, it’s a lesson on the vulnerability of our power grid. How do we make ourselves more resilient? Perhaps a look north will provide the answer as Alaska’s isolated communities develop blueprints for sustainable, locally generated power infrastructure. It’s a relevant topic for North Dakota because as

Read & Share sourced from: NPR

On health care and everything else, the path to compromise is available

by: Jim Maxson | August 4, 2017

Contrary to most, I was not surprised that Congress has failed to repeal and replace “Obamacare”. “Repeal and Replace” has been the unifying slogan of the Republican party since 2009. That slogan may have become fact except for one minor detail. Like the Democratic party, the Republican party is merely a coalition of various diverse

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EPA chief to discuss water regulations during visit to state

by: Josh Wolsky | August 4, 2017

Scott Pruitt, the EPA’s top administrator, will be visiting North Dakota next week, and the Waters of the U.S. rule making is expected to be a hot topic of conversation. Between agricultural and energy industries and our cultural disposition toward property rights, environmental regulations and rules have big impacts on North Dakota, and it sounds

Read & Share sourced from: Williston Herald

North Dakota initiated measure study commission holds first meeting

by: Josh Wolsky | August 2, 2017

The process by which North Dakota citizens and organizations bring issues to the ballot for consideration is going up for a review. The initiated measure process of petition carrying and signature gathering that allows a form of direct citizen legislation has been criticized in recent years. One of the arguments against, issues like the recently

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

State sees lots of interest in business side of medical marijuana industry

by: Josh Wolsky | August 2, 2017

The response could be described as a lot of interest. Earlier in July, the ND Department of Health asked for a letter of intent for parties interested in participating in the business side of the state’s medical marijuana industry. That request drew letters from 97 different parties. The formal application process is expected to open

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

It’s Time to Raise the Gas Tax

by: Josh Wolsky | August 2, 2017

WIth roads and bridges in need of repair, Rob Port with the Say Anything Blog becomes an unlikely proponent of an increase in the state’s gas tax. Read his arguments here.

Read & Share sourced from: Say Anything Blog.com

North Dakota passes 400 percent fine increase for littering

by: Josh Wolsky | July 27, 2017

The police and highway patrol have been empowered to get serious about littering. Starting August 1, the fine for throwing out that cigarette will be something you notice if you get caught; it’s going from $100 to $500. The Grand Forks Herald has more on the story.

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Western wheat crop down by a third or more

by: Josh Wolsky | July 27, 2017

The yields are starting to come in, and it’s what would be expected in a drought year. Numbers vary widely across the state, but in the areas with less rain, the yields per acre are down from the averages of the recent good years. The Bismarck Tribune has the story on the early data. Hopefully,

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

ND’s top correction officer looks to Norway for new solutions to old problems

by: Josh Wolsky | July 26, 2017

In our country and more and more in our state, we put people in jail. For a long time, we’ve viewed incarceration as the only solution to the problem of criminal activity and recidivism. But is it? More importantly, is there a better solution? A recent trip to Norway by our state’s top correction officers

Read & Share sourced from: Mother Jones

Petition to revoke Sunday Closing Laws approved for circulation

by: Josh Wolsky | July 26, 2017

Last winter, the ND Senate narrowly defeated a bill that would have allowed retail operations to open on Sunday mornings. Now, supporters of the regulatory rollback are going to take the issue directly to the voters. Secretary of State Al Jaeger approved circulation of a petition that would put the issue on the ballot.

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

Law makers, officials seek solution over Red River water supply project McClusky Canal hurdle

by: Josh Wolsky | July 26, 2017

The proposed (and partially funded) Red River water supply project draws water from the McClusky Canal. But in years of extreme drought, the Corp of Engineers is proposing to lower the operating level of Lake Audubon. That puts the water supply in jeopardy. What are the solutions? Lawmakers and project officials are looking for them.

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

Worker shortage slows Bakken oil drilling but production remains above 1M barrels per day

by: Josh Wolsky | July 17, 2017

The number of rigs active in North Dakota is holding steady the past few months and production is still above a million barrels per day, but there’s a worker shortage in the fracking industry that’s delaying completion of many already-drilled wells. There’s also some transition taking place in the amount of oil moved by rail

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

First tech, now financing: U.S. shale firms get creative to pump more oil

by: Josh Wolsky | July 13, 2017

Necessity is the mother of invention, and we’ve experienced that first hand here in the North Dakota oil patch. The necessity was to survive an OPEC supply assault intended to force shale operators out of the market with lower prices. The invention was better, more efficient ways to drill. And as the term of the

Read & Share sourced from: Reuters

What a Reinvented College Looks Like: 4 Alternative Higher-Ed Models

by: Josh Wolsky | July 11, 2017

In the article below, you’ll find a call from an influential North Dakota blogger to close some of North Dakota’s higher education institutions. It’s a sign that it’s time to challenge conventional thinking when it comes to education. To that end, this article from EdSurge is timely; it provides examples of schools and higher-education-esque start-ups

Read & Share sourced from: EdSurge