Geoff Simon's Quick Connects -- January 5, 2024

• North Dakota oil and gas industry leaders call 2023 a 'great' year -- KFYR - TV

• ND oil, gas year-end numbers expected to beat initial projections -- AM 1100 The Flag

• Energy transition can't go faster than the pace of innovation -- Grand Forks Herald

• North Dakota oil production to soon reach new milestone -- Prairie Public Newsroom

• Coal Creek to recycle three main waste streams thanks to expanded partnership -- Bismarck Tribune

• Xcel Energy admits wind and solar are causing electricity prices to soar -- American Experiment

• Bureau of Land Management begins public comment period for oil and gas leasing -- Bismarck Tribune

• Entry-level jobs pay six figures in this gritty part of America - ND's Bakken oilfield -- The Epoch Times

• North Dakota Public Service Commissioner concerned about state's reliance on wind power -- WDAY

• Interest strong in new North Dakota property tax credit; 10,000 applications received -- Dickinson Press

• Minot military veteran Trygve Hammer challenges Kelly Armstrong for U.S. House seat -- KX News

• Burgum calls on Rios to resign as law enforcement group blasts embattled lawmaker -- Dickinson Press

• North Dakota Information Technology hires Kimberly Weis as new chief data officer -- Dickinson Press

• Jon Godfread to run for another term as North Dakota insurance commissioner -- Bismarck Tribune

• Governor Burgum's 2024 State of the State address to focus on progress, priorities -- Dickinson Press

• North Dakota Republican Party to hold 2024 convention from April 5-6 in Fargo -- Bismarck Tribune

• Williston city leaders discuss plans to accommodate increased population in 2024 -- KFYR - TV

• Eight Crosby city offices and Divide County Commission seat up for election on June 11 -- The Journal

• Minot native Pietsch appointed as Ward County Planning and Zoning administrator -- Minot Daily News

• Possible removal of Theodore Roosevelt National Park wild horses gains nat'l attention -- KFYR - TV

• Northwest Area Water Supply project is closer to finishing its first phase of construction -- KFYR - TV

• Local leaders meet with Talon Metals representatives regarding status of planned facility -- Hazen Star

• Minot Workforce Academy, North Campus construction projects near the finish line -- Minot Daily News

• Tioga School District seeking $23.5 million bond for added classroom, gymnasium space -- KFYR - TV

• South Dakota schools could be barred from charging low-income students for lunch -- Sioux Falls Live

• Dr. Bernell Hirning: Catalyst for change in educational administration -- The Education Magazine

• Government of India: Transition away from coal power not likely in the near future -- Hindustan Times

• The climate movement suffered a slew of defeats and setbacks in 2023 -- Watts Up With That?

• The most aggressive restrictions Biden's EPA pushed on Americans in 2023 -- Daily Caller

• US becomes world largest LNG exporter; this year shaping up to be another banner year -- Oil Price

• Coal's life-saving role is being ignored by the climate-obsessed news media -- Real Clear Energy

• Energy regulators' power to address emissions in the crosshairs in federal courts in 2024 -- E&E News

• $11M study aims to find out if new Alaska coal plant could be climate friendly -- Northern Journal

• Chevron tells California it's losing jobs, investment due to anti-energy policies -- WSJ Editorial Board

• New Mexico officials propose new regulatory framework to reuse fracking wastewater -- AP News

• Methane rules, surging production, mergers, next phase of natural gas top issues in 2024 -- E&E News

• Oslo, Norway learns hard lesson about electric bus performance in cold weather -- EuroNews

• DOE finalizes efficiency rules for fridges and freezers, cost to increase -- Washington Examiner

• Actual data destroys ABC News' claim that 2023 exhibited dangerous heat trends -- Climate Realism

• Four new climate papers find the Antarctic ice sheet is more stable than thought -- No Tricks Zone

• EPA "social cost of carbon" a fraud, minimizes CO2 ag benefits, its aim is political -- National Review

• Opinion: Today's materialistic world cannot survive without essential crude oil -- The Crude Life

Geoff Simon's Quick Connects -- December 29, 2023

• Summit carbon pipeline says it's signed 80% of needed easements in ND -- Ag Week

• Investigators look for cause of oil-field explosion near Williston -- Minot Daily News

• Ukranian oilfield hands in North Dakota fear 'what comes next' -- The Epoch Times

• A merry drill, baby, drill 12-hour Christmas Monday in the Bakken -- The Epoch Times

• DMR reports a 'good year' for oil and gas production in North Dakota -- Prairie Public Newsroom

• US Dept of Energy looks to build an energy industry within North Dakota's tribal nations -- KX News

• Year in Review: Carbon capture sees ups and downs, oil continues to rebound -- Bismarck Tribune

• Green Bison Soy Processing Plant is a game changer for northern Plains soybeans -- Dickinson Press

• With pipeline growth booming, US agency in charge of safety struggles to keep up -- Bismarck Tribune

• ND natgas production dips, takeaway capacity concerns forecast for 2024 -- Natural Gas Intelligence

• Biden administration grants Louisiana power to approve carbon capture wells -- Bismarck Tribune

• Applications open in January for new Primary Residence Credit of up to $500 for 2024 -- The Journal

• Job Service North Dakota reports stable unemployment rate at 1.4% in November -- Dickinson Press

• Gov. Burgum names Braun interim director for prisons as Krabbenhoft retires -- North Dakota Monitor

• Williston City Commission renews $150,000 property tax exemption for new homes -- KFYR - TV

• Rep. Jeremy Olson announces he is running for reelection in District 26 -- McKenzie County Farmer

• Southwest North Dakota nonprofits are getting ready for Giving Hearts Day -- Bowman County Pioneer

• Local Lions Club asking for community support for Preschool Park fundraising push -- The Beacon

• World-Record: Mott prepares for record-setting fireworks display on December 30 -- Dickinson Press

• Ward County commissioners adopt multi-hazard mitigation plan; updated every 5 years -- KFYR - TV

• Bakken Area Skills Center nearly complete; classes to start on January 15 -- McKenzie County Farmer

• Williston Basin School District prepares next steps for upcoming bond referendum -- KFYR - TV

• Ray Public School receives $190K toward career and tech ed classes, library supplies -- The Journal

• ND Dollars for Scholars accepting applications from seniors, college students -- Minot Daily News

• Minot North High School sees significant remodel progress; no setbacks foreseen by Faul -- KFYR - TV

• Lower 48 oil, natural gas permitting tumbles in November, led by Permian dip -- Natural Gas Intelligence

• OPEC facing weakening demand in first half of 2024 just as its global market share declines -- Reuters

• Record 26.9M bpd global gasoline consumption in 2023 defies IEA forecast; tops 2019 peak -- Oil Price

• Biden anti-consumer crusade targets four more types of appliances, price will increase -- Fox News

• Federal judge sides with Osage tribe, orders massive Oklahoma wind farm torn down -- Daily Caller

• US finalizes contracts to purchase 3M barrels of oil to replenish SPR after last year's sales -- Reuters

• Green groups are feuding over US treasury's clean hydrogen tax credit rule -- Wall Street Journal

• New York City climate policies could make life even more 'unaffordable' for middle class -- Daily Caller

• "We never had a vote": Climate expert blasts Biden admin for imposing climate agenda -- Daily Caller

• Range anxiety: New testing finds electric vehicles fall short of EPA estimates -- The Center Square

• No one wants to buy used electric vehicles, making new ones a tougher sell too -- Japan Times

• GOP presidential field generally opposes eminent domain for carbon pipelines -- North Dakota Monitor

• U.S. drivers hope for lower pump prices in 2024 as gas stocks, global refining capacity climbs -- Reuters

• Mainstream media pushes false claims of 2023 being the "hottest in 125,000 years" -- Climate Realism

• Despite mainstream media blackout, 2023 was a year of record cold temperatures -- Slay News

• 2023 US wildfire season sees total acreage burned under 3 million, lowest since 1998 -- Climate Depot

Geoff Simon's Quick Connects -- December 22, 2023

• Trial set for ND pursuit of DAPL protest law enforcement, damage costs -- AP

• North Dakota inspires DOE expansion of energy production in the Arctic -- KX News

• ND one of six states not applying for 'Solar for All' grant program -- SD Searchlight

• Xcel closes first unit at Sherco coal plant, a transition milestone -- Star Tribune

• Preparations underway with North Dakota Republican presidential caucus 75 days away -- KFYR-TV

• Responsibility for any prosecution in building cost overrun investigation still unclear -- Bismarck Tribune

• Lawmakers voice frustrations as questions linger on deleted emails, lease -- North Dakota Monitor

• North Dakota reaches new population record of 783,926 in latest census estimates -- Dickinson Press

• Questions remain over ND legislative district maps; lawmakers may miss deadline -- The Center Square

• GOP incumbents Gallion, Beadle, Christmann announce plans to run again in 2024 -- Bismarck Tribune

• State Representative Nico Rios cited for driving under the influence over weekend -- Bismarck Tribune

• Divide County zoning board hones in on concerns over solar facility at public hearing -- The Journal

• Center Mine publishes list of areas scheduled for blasting starting now through Dec 2024 -- The Beacon

• Human Relations Committee was discontinued at Minot's City Council recent meeting -- KFYR-TV

• Killdeer's Convention and Visitors Bureau launches community-driven public input -- Dickinson Press

• As Applied Digital is expanding its footprint, town of Ellendale hopes to keep pace -- Dickinson Press

• NDDOT STIP report highlights several road construction projects in Williston district -- KFYR-TV

• Availability of new grant has Ward County Highway Department exploring projects -- Minot Daily News

• Crosby City Council appoints president as new mayor after previous one stepped down -- KFYR-TV

• Hess Corp. kicks off toy truck and STEM curriculum donation to North Dakota schools -- KX News

• Poll shows 88% of ND teachers believe retention will be harder next school year -- Minot Daily News

• North Dakota DPI awards $3 million for paraprofessional-to-teacher program -- Bismarck Tribune

• Minot Public School board has offered the position of superintendent to Dr. Scott Faul -- KFYR-TV

• Divide County school board approves gym floor, bleacher bids, hires business teacher -- The Journal

• Williston Basin School District still gathering input for upcoming elementary school bond -- KFYR-TV

• South Heart Public School esteemed music teacher Jana Schweigert honored -- Dickinson Press

• MCPSD1 superintendent seeks input on school communication methods -- McKenzie County Farmer

• Rugby High School receives Blue Ribbon designation based on academic excellence -- KFYR - TV

• New England High School making waves of positive change throughout community -- Dickinson Press

• 22 states take aim at SEC over climate regulations creating new type of company -- Fox Business News

• Emails show Biden admin coordinating with environmental group that's suing them -- Daily Caller

• World leaders ignore growing safety issues with 'green' energy; batteries start fires -- Steve Goreham

• Republicans in Congress hold hearing 'to prevent energy poverty' in America -- Real Clear Energy

• Canada to announce requirement that all vehicles sold be zero emissions by 2035 -- The Hill

• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says 'bananas' federal EV decree will lead to rationing -- Calgary Herald

• US shale producers return to haunt OPEC pricing strategy, production tops expectations -- Bloomberg

• Angola leaves OPEC after minister says country gains nothing from membership -- Reuters

• Global coal demand set to rise by 1.4%, surpass record-high level of 8.5B tons for first time -- Oil Price

• US grid blackouts possible as retirements too fast for renewables to backfill -- Natural Gas Intelligence

• Shale drillers from Permian Basin to Bakken ramp up oil production well beyond forecast -- World Oil

• Wyoming's Halleck Creek mine may soon be ranked number 1 for critical minerals -- Bismarck Tribune

• French court orders wind farm to be torn down after golden eagle death -- Recharge

• US buys 2 million barrels of oil for Strategic Petroleum Reserve at average of $74.23 per bbl -- Reuters

• Oil drillers get last shot at Gulf of Mexico leases before admin imposes 2 year hiatus -- BNN Bloomberg

• Supreme Court to hear arguments on EPA's 'good neighbor' rule during February sitting -- E&E News

• Upstart EV companies are careening toward bankruptcy -- Committee to Unleash Prosperity

• The rush to force everyone to purchase electric vehicles is imploding -- Heartland Institute

• Biden gifting $600M to activist groups, universities to push eco-justice -- Climate Change Dispatch

• Debunking the utterly unscientific 1.5?C "climate cliff," it's nothing but hot air -- Climate Realism