Geoff Simon's Quick Connects -- May 7, 2021

• North Dakota lawmakers throw lifelines to the coal industry -- Fargo Forum

• Groups sue over US program allowing pipelines on wetlands -- Associated Press

• Energy Transfer expects $2.4 billion boost from winter storm -- Reuters

• Feds call on lignite to answer U.S. shortage of critical minerals -- KXMB-TV

• Oasis Petroleum buying out Diamondback Energy's Bakken assets -- Williston Herald

• PSC irked: Lawmakers don't make rail inspection program permanent -- Fargo Forum

• Continental shifting back to its oil-heavy assets in the Bakken -- Williston Herald

• Company to proceed with SD uranium mining while permits on appeal -- Fargo Forum

• Marathon announces wind energy agreement for Dickinson -- Dickinson Press

• Oasis Petroleum anticipates more consolidation in Bakken oilfield -- Reuters

• North Dakota PSC approves MDU natural gas rate hike -- Bismarck Tribune

• Wyoming backs coal with $1.2 million threat to sue other states -- Associated Press

• Hess Corp. will require COVID vaccination for office workers -- Tioga Tribune

• In ways large and small, 2021 legislature touched North Dakotans -- Bismarck Tribune

• Erica Thunder appointed as ND Indian Affairs interim director -- Fargo Forum

• Numerous lignite coal and oil bills clear 2021 legislature -- Bismarck Tribune

• Legislature approved water governance change, creates new dept. -- Prairie Public Radio

• ND schools begin instituting Native American history into curriculum -- KFYR-TV

• Dept of Public Instruction to monitor 'ESSER' funding for local schools -- Prairie Public Radio

• Dickinson Public School District now offering permanent online academy -- KFYR-TV

• Williams County District 8 School Board votes to end distance learning -- KFYR-TV

• Divide County to vote on size of school board next week -- The Journal

• Mercer County Zoning Board dicusses road access for frack sand mine -- Beulah Beacon

• City and MSU Foundation agreement advances CTE plans -- Minot Daily News

• Klug announces re-election plans, highlights 2020 accomplishments -- Williston Herald

• Considerations underway for appointing county auditor over election -- Dickinson Press

• Planting in the dust, farmers plant seed in dry, parched fields -- McKenzie County Farmer

• Early census results are promising for Bakken oil patch communities -- Tioga Tribune

• Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce announces new executive director -- Dickinson Press

• Local Crosby businesses embracing online sales creating website shopping -- The Journal

• Oil nears $70 as easing Western lockdowns boost summer demand outlook -- Reuters

• Biden's dubious infrastructure jobs claims are wildly misleading -- IER

• Four key questions to answer in FERC's energy grid discussion -- Energy In Depth

• U.S. oil imports from OPEC are down, but Canadian imports remain high -- EIA

• Oil pipeline builder agrees to halt eminent domain lawsuits -- Associated Press

• U.S. proposes ending rule that weakened wild bird protections -- Associated Press

• BP proves natural gas/oil still reign as profits triple on prices -- NGI

• Canada's banks and investors face dilemma in meeting emissions target -- Reuters

• China's emissions now exceed all the developed world's combined -- Bloomberg News

• Goldman Sachs: 'Copper is the new oil.' Will Minnesota be next North Dakota? -- American Experiment