Geoff Simon's Quick Connects -- December 20, 2024

Geoff Simon's Quick Connects -- December 13, 2024

• North Dakota energy outlook poised for growth, says Comm. Joel Brown -- WZFG

• Maah Daah Hey monument a blatant effort to restrict development -- Dickinson Press

• Massive, energy consuming data centers eyeing SD -- South Dakota Searchlight

• Julie Fedorchak named to Energy and Commerce Committee -- Bismarck Tribune

• Greenpeace seeks court permission to research mailer critical of DAPL protests -- North Dakota Monitor

• Field study exploring lithium-infused oilfield brine announced in North Dakota's Bakken -- Morningstar

• North Dakota regulators hear case for pipeline built without initial state utility permit -- Bismarck Tribune

• Burgum meets with senators ahead of confirmation; Hoeven helping him arrange meetings -- E&E News

• Arrow Pipeline settles with EPA for $450K for air quality violations on Fort Berthold -- Bismarck Tribune

• Grand Forks seeks Operation Prairie Dog funding changes as session nears -- Grand Forks Herald

• Burgum discusses cabinet nomination in final interview before leaving governor's office -- KFYR - TV

• Former North Dakota banking regulator Tim Karsky to be securities commissioner -- Bismarck Tribune

• Key observers weighing in on progress made to improve North Dakota childcare -- Minot Daily News

• North Dakota Workforce Development Council has released its 2024 recommendations -- KX News

• North Dakota hires new consulting firm NEPC to oversee $23 billion in investments -- Dickinson Press

• Lawmakers slam North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund over audit findings -- North Dakota Monitor

• Armstrong appoints Dirk Wilke as interim Health and Human Services director -- North Dakota Monitor

• Applications for $500 primary residence credit for North Dakota residents open for 2025 -- KFYR - TV

• Work on the TRNP Scenic Loop Drive stops for the winter with finish line in sight -- Dickinson Press

• Study ranked Dickinson as one of the most cost-effective locations among ND cities -- Dickinson Press

• McKenzie County Commission accepted the resignation of State's Attorney Ty Skarda -- KFYR - TV

• Lawsuits over Badlands bridge paused as Billings County votes to negotiate -- Bismarck Tribune

• McKenzie County deputies seek information on individual who damaged weather station -- KFYR - TV

• Success of small towns comes from positive people and things; infrastructure a key -- The Journal

• Arnegard State Representative Olson appointed Majority Caucus Leader -- McKenzie County Farmer

• Data center requests annexation into Ellendale; would increase tax revenue -- North Dakota Monitor

• Senator Hoeven inspires future leaders during Q&A at NDASC annual state conference -- KX News

• Higher ed board undertakes painstaking process of updating tenure policies -- North Dakota Monitor

• South Dakota adding civics requirement in public universities. govt, politics & history -- Dakota Scout

• University of North Dakota law school aims to avoid deficit by raising tuition -- Grand Forks Herald

• South Dakota school superintendent: 'Extreme behavior' from students on the rise -- Siouxland Proud

• Williston School Board to meet next week for next steps for finding new superintendent -- KFYR - TV

• Four North Dakota students nominated by Rep. Kelly Armstrong for US service academies -- KX News

• Former Sen. Nicole Poolman will deliver UND commencement address Dec. 20 -- Grand Forks Herald

• Students learn practical skills for future jobs at the State Student Council Convention -- KFYR - TV

• EPA CO2 capture mandate challenged by GOP, industry as "unachievable" -- Washington Examiner

• 5 ways Trump could overturn several of Biden's climate agenda when he assumes office -- Fox News

• US average price of gas has fallen below $3 per gallon for first time in more than 3.5 years -- Oil Price

• Under Trump's administration, an 'all of the above' energy policy is poised for a comeback -- NPR

• Trump's energy secretary pick Chris Wright preaches benefits of climate change -- Wall Street Journal

• Interior to auction 400,000 acres in ANWR to meet federal leasing requirement -- Washington Examiner

• Devon Energy CEO plans to retire in March; here's who will lead the company -- The Oklahoman

• New Mexico's oil income investments now surpass personal income tax revenue -- Minot Daily News

• EIA forecasts US power use will rise to record highs in 2024 and 2025; AI drives demand -- Reuters

• US weighs new Russia oil sanctions to weaken Putin ahead of Trump, Bloomberg reports -- Reuters

• Hefty US thermal coal exports look set to keep climbing in 2025 after hitting six year high -- Reuters

• Republicans demand to see science behind DOE ban on natural gas exports -- The Center Square

• Biden's Defense Dept. doubles down on climate as Trump promises military reset -- American Thinker

• Lameduck Biden officials race to fund "green" buses before Donald Trump's return -- Daily Caller

Geoff Simon's Quick Connects -- December 6, 2024

• A tricky North Dakota minerals dispute awaits Doug Burgum at Interior -- E&E News

• Judge OKs ND request to intervene in DAPL pipeline lawsuit -- North Dakota Monitor

• North Dakota Governor-elect Armstrong: Unleashing American energy -- Fox News

• TC Energy ends its interest in Project Tundra CO2 capture effort -- Bismarck Tribune

• 26,000 gallons of oil lost between Bottineau, Williams Co. spills, some recovered -- Dickinson Press

• Department of Mineral Resources expects more positive outlook following the election -- KFYR - TV

• Burleigh County planning to challenge state's recent approval of Summit permit -- Bismarck Tribune

• North Dakota governor charts his path to Interior with a rosy state oil, gas outlook -- Bismarck Tribune

• New CO2 capture pilot project for Basin Electric's Dry Fork Station is underway -- Gillette News Record

• Minnesota municipal utility sounds alarm over state's green energy mandates -- West Central Tribune

• Legislature aims to increase experience for new lawmakers ahead of term-limits -- North Dakota Monitor

• Lieutenant governor-elect Michelle Strinden ready to embrace new role in Bismarck -- Dickinson Press

• Former North Dakota banking regulator Tim Karsky to be securities commissioner -- Bismarck Tribune

• Incentive compensation plan could allow top officials in RIO to earn 100% of salaries -- Dickinson Press

• Congresswoman-Elect Fedorchak discusses orientation, transition, first trip to Capitol Hill -- KFYR - TV

• North Dakota House aims to bring back COVID-era remote participation rule -- North Dakota Monitor

• District 41 chooses Karen Grindberg for legislative seat vacated by Michelle Strinden -- Dickinson Press

• Ethical issues take center stage at North Dakota Legislature organizational session -- Dickinson Press

• ND Senate rejects conflict of interest rules while House adopts modified version -- North Dakota Monitor

• North Dakota receives over $30 million in federal funds for water infrastructure upgrades -- KX News

• McKenzie County commissioners oppose monument designation for Maah Daah Hey Trail -- KFYR - TV

• Dunn County suspends road superintendent pending legal charges, public outcry -- Dickinson Press

• Twenty houses ready for delivery to Ellendale under pilot financing program -- North Dakota Monitor

• Commerce announces applications open for Regional Workforce Impact Program -- Minot Daily News

• Dickinson Rotary sets record with Literacy Project by distributing 484 dictionaries -- Dickinson Press

• ND State Fair Foundation dissolved due to former board president's real estate move -- KFYR - TV

• Dickinson-based Behavioral Health Center earns nat'l re-accreditation for excellence -- Dickinson Press

• Newest Divide County sheriff's deputy James Stacey enjoying move to new community -- The Journal

• Williston Basin School District Superintendent Richard Faidley submits letter of resignation -- KFYR - TV

• McKenzie County school district offers new learning program to students -- McKenzie County Farmer

• North Dakota Teachers' Fund for Retirement receives its eighth pension standards award -- KX News

• President of state higher ed board Mihalick elected to regional treasurer position -- Minot Daily News

• Longest serving president in North Dakota University System to retire next year -- North Dakota Monitor

• Baesler: For tutorials on streamlining the Education Department, look to the states -- Washington Times

• Williston's newest elementary school will be named after Sloulin following survey -- Williston Herald

• Williston State adding four-year programs on-site through Dickinson State, Mayville State -- KFYR-TV

• Public education group responds to Noem's proposal for school voucher program -- Dakota News Now

• Donald Trump likely to phase out tax breaks for renewables, predicts GOP lobbyist -- E&E News

• US natural gas market is poised to enter a new cycle of demand growth under new admin -- Oil Price

• After decades on top, China sputters as world's dominant driver of expanding oil consumption -- Reuters

• Trump DOE pick Wright starts meeting with senators in an effort to secure confirmation -- E&E News

• Global climate agenda a story of power asymmetry, not environmental cooperation -- RealClearEnergy

• 11 Republican AGs sue BlackRock, Vanguard over 'conspiracy' to slash coal production -- E&E News

• Alaska Governor: Ending Biden's war on energy will make America affordable again -- Fox News

• Doug Burgum, according to his former employees, as he prepares to take helm of Interior -- E&E News

• China bans exports of some rare minerals to United States as tensions over trade heat up -- The Hill

• Advocates frustrated by lack of engagement on regional hydrogen hub projects -- Energy News Network

• We can't mandate our way to a just energy evolution, limiting consumers' options -- RealClearEnergy

• Biden-Harris EPA makes first-ever climate change arrest, 480 criminal cases pending -- Fox News

• EPA hails 'revitalized' enforcement efforts as Biden administration heads to exit -- Associated Press

• While Helene victims freeze in their tents, Biden pledges billions for green energy abroad -- RedState

• US energy policy needs urgent overhaul to tackle rising demand and harmful regs -- RealClearEnergy

• EPA advisor admits Trump "insurance policy, like throwing gold bars off the Titanic" -- Project Veritas

• GOP reps demand Biden's green loan office stop lending amid lame duck bonanza -- Daily Caller

• Ignore the media fervor, extreme weather and climate deaths aren't getting worse -- Climate Realism

• The truth about 2024 hurricane trends and WaPo's political hit job on Chris Wright -- The Honest Broker