WESTERN DAKOTA ENERGY ASSOCIATION

Coal Kept Lights on During Polar Vortex Analysis by Energy Ventures Analysis found that coal played a critical role in ensuring that electricity demand could be met during the January 2025 Polar Vortex. The analysis showed that dispatchable electricity resources (coal, natural gas, nuclear, and oil) generated 85% of the electricity needed across six of the most heavily impacted regions of the country. https://trst.in/RHMpbI

House Explores Data Center Impact A bill that would explore the impact of large energy consumers on the state's electrical grid is being considered by the North Dakota House. https://trst.in/u1myED

Senate Rejects Prairie Dog Holdback The ND Senate has defeated a bill that would withhold Operation Prairie Dog infrastructure payouts from local governments that enact regulations that interfere or conflict with state-approved energy infrastructure or value-added agricultural projects. https://trst.in/xkKjzp

NDDOT Budget Has Funds for Hwy 85 Members of the ND Senate Appropriations Committee voted unanimously last week to approve SB 2012, the biennial budget of the ND Department of Transportation, which includes a $100 million line item to pay for four-laning a six-mile section of Highway 85 south of the LongX Bridge. https://trst.in/GKhSPk

In this week's WDEA newsletter: -NDDOT Budget Has Funds for Hwy 85 -Senate Rejects Prairie Dog Holdback -ND House Explores Data Center Impact -Natural Gas Infrastructure Grant Stalls -Annual Sessions Passed by House -Senate Snuffs "Excessive" Reclamation Bill -Coal Kept Lights on During Polar Vortex -Williston State Sets Enrollment Record Read the details and more at https://conta.cc/4hKMrQE #roads #northdakota #oil #coal #naturalgas #CO2

ND Crude Output Down in December North Dakota crude oil production dropped slightly in December to just under 1.2 million barrels per day, down just over 30,000 bbl/day from the November figure. https://trst.in/Wxav0P

Landowner Litigation Costs Debated The Senate Judiciary Committee is considering a bill that seeks to reimburse landowners for the cost of expert witnesses during eminent domain proceedings.? https://trst.in/GPbO75

Senate Kills Eminent Domain Bill The North Dakota Senate, on a 21-26 vote, defeated a bill that would have effectively stripped carbon dioxide pipelines of common carrier status, preventing them from exercising the power of eminent domain to condemn land needed for a pipeline project. https://trst.in/FzugRU

Prairie Dog Holdback Draws Opposition Legislation that would withhold Operation Prairie Dog infrastructure payouts from local governments that enact regulations that interfere or conflict with state-approved energy infrastructure projects drew a stack of opposition when it was heard before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. https://trst.in/Wx3Tcg

In this week's WDEA newsletter: -Prairie Dog Holdback Draws Opposition -ND Senate Kills Eminent Domain Bill -Landowner Litigation Costs Debated -ND Crude Output Down in December -Committee Advances Hub City Debt Relief -PSC Sets Hearings on Transmission Line -Oil Advocate Named as Next BLM Director -Chris Wright: The War on Coal is Over -Trump Administration Taps Kirsten Baesler -School Construction Grants Sought Read the details and more at https://conta.cc/3EG23Gu #CO2 #oil #coal #pipelines #school #reliability #debt