The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a draft environmental assessment (EA) for the Bison Xpress project, and is proposing a finding of no significant environmental impact on the project to expand natural gas takeaway capacity in North Dakota. 

The project would add compression at three stations on TC Energy's Northern Border Pipeline at Arnegard, Manning and Glen Ullin. The additional transportation capacity would allow the company to reverse the original flow of the Bison XPress pipeline and move up to 300 million cubic feet of gas per day from Northern Border at Glen Ullin to an interconnection with Wyoming Interstate Company at its Kurtz Meter Station near Buffalo, Wyoming.

The additional takeaway capacity is important to North Dakota oil production, which could be constrained by associated natural gas production that is continuing to climb as pressure within underground formations is released. 

The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the project in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. FERC staff who prepared the 93-page EA advised the Commission issue a finding of no significant impact.

"Based on the analysis in this EA, we have determined that if Northern Border constructs and operates the Project in accordance with its application and supplements, approval would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment," the EA states.

The Bison XPress Project includes the following components in North Dakota"

(a) abandoning by removal the existing 20,000 HP Rolls Royce Avon gas-fired, turbine compressor, installing two new 23,470 HP Solar Turbine Titan 130 gas-fired, turbine compressors, and installing associated piping, six new gas cooling bays and appurtenances at the existing Arnegard (No. 4) Compressor Station; 

(b) placing the existing 38,000 HP Rolls Royce RB211 gas-fired, turbine compressor on standby for planned and unplanned outages up to 500 hours annually, installing two new 31,900 HP Solar Turbine Titan 250 gas-fired, turbine compressors, and installing associated piping and appurtenances at the existing Manning (No. 5) Compressor Station; and 

(c) placing the existing 38,000 HP Rolls Royce RB211 gas-fired, turbine compressor on standby for planned and unplanned outages up to 500 hours annually, installing two new 31,900 HP Solar Turbine Titan 250 gas-fired, turbine compressors, and installing associated piping, four new gas cooling bays and appurtenances at the existing Glen Ullin (No. 6) Compressor Station. 

FERC opened a 30-day comment period on the EA with comments due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 8. Click here to read or download the Environmental Assessment.

Critics of the state of North Dakota's effort to develop an industry around capturing carbon dioxide emissions need to consider the enormous prosperity that CO2 enhanced oil recovery could produce in the state.

That's the message from Lynn Helms, director of the Department of Mineral Resources, who was interviewed this week by Scott Hennen on the radio program What's on Your Mind. Helms said he's heard criticism that CO2 capture efforts amount to selling out to backers of the so-called Green New Deal, but he said it's actually reversing the score.

Click here to listen to Helms' comments.

Helms said the state is continuing its legal effort to block the Biden administration's anti-fossil fuel regulations, spending around $15 million this biennium on the courtroom battle. But he said it may take a long time to reverse the negative federal policies, so it makes sense that the state takes advantage of financial incentives that will allow it to produce more oil.

Click here to listen to Helms' comments.

Helms said the use of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery could mean another generation of oil production, creating new wealth and more jobs in North Dakota.

Click here to listen to Helms' comments.

Helms noted that the state just surpassed the 5-billion-barrel mark from horizontal wells in the Bakken, a feat that took 18 years. He said with current technology, the state will likely produce another 5 billion. But with enhanced oil recovery, Helms said North Dakota could top that with another 10 billion barrels of production.

Click here and advance to the 1:16 mark to listen to Helms' interview during the April 15 edition of What's on Your Mind. Click here to learn more about enhanced oil recovery.

Source: Count on Coal

With news leaking that as many as four of EPA’s rules targeting the coal fleet will be finalized next week, including the so-called Clean Power Plan 2.0, EPA is delivering a cumulative and decisive blow to the nation’s grid reliability it has refused to acknowledge or analyze in its rulemakings.

While EPA has downplayed the impact of each of its rules, asking for each to be viewed in isolation, its strategy has always been to deliver a cumulative knockout punch to force accelerated plant retirements. And it’s poised to deliver that punch precisely as concern over the perilous state of the nation’s power supply reaches a fever pitch.

It’s only April but the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is already facing tight operating conditions and has asked power generators to hold off on scheduled maintenance to ensure it has enough dispatchable capacity available to meet demand. Needless to say, tight operating conditions in spring don’t bode well for the summer heat to come. Last summer, power demand in Texas set 10 new records. And demand is only expected to rise higher and faster.

Pablo Vegas, CEO of the ERCOT, recently told a conference that studies show Texas could need 25,000 megawatts of new generation capacity in five or six years. “That’s like adding another whole Dallas-Fort Worth to the state,” Vegas said.

Providing that scale of capacity – while also replacing a significant portion of the state’s dispatchable capacity, thanks to the EPA – will be a colossal challenge. Across the country, grid operators and utilities are facing daunting demand projections and an onslaught of EPA rules that are remarkably out of touch with on-the-ground reality.

“What keeps me up at night is the winter of 2032,” Richard Dewey, CEO of the New York Independent System Operator, said at the same conference. “I don’t know what fills that gap in the year 2032. It feels like that’s a long way away, but that’s like tomorrow,” he said considering the timeframes required to bring new generating capacity and enabling infrastructure online. If what we’ve seen in draft rules holds, that date also happens to be when EPA hopes to effectively eliminate what remains of the coal fleet with the Clean Power Plan 2.0.

Click here to read more.

Construction is underway on Basin Electric Power Cooperative's Roundup-to-Kummer Ridge transmission project in western North Dakota. 

The project includes 33 miles of new 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line between the existing Roundup substation north of Killdeer, and the existing Kummer Ridge substation near Johnson’s Corner. The new line will help serve the growing load Basin Electric members are experiencing in northwest North Dakota.

Work is also underway on a second transmission line construction project, the other being the Pioneer Generation Station-to-Judson transmission line northwest of Williston.

Design for the Roundup-to-Kummer Ridge transmission started in 2022 and is budgeted to cost approximately $80 million, Basin's most expensive dollar-per-mile line to-date. This investment is necessary to serve load in the Kummer Ridge area, provide critical transmission redundancy, and help alleviate energy market congestion. The line required multi-discipline collaboration for the project team in the areas of engineering, environmental, and right-of-way acquisition. 

“The project had unique and challenging terrain,” said Bobby Nasset, Basin Electric’s supervisor of Civil Engineering and Roundup to Kummer Ridge project manager. “Our Environmental and Right-of-Way teams did a great job of getting the approvals we needed to start construction.”

The design team had to strategically place structures in accessible locations that allow for transmission line construction.

“For our traditional transmission lines, we typically follow quarter lines or section lines that are more accessible,” said Nassett. “For this project, we had to identify and acquire approximately 90 miles of off right-of-way access for the structure locations. The terrain also required several large spans over valleys, we had spans up to 2,300 feet.”

Approximately 30 landowners were identified along the route of the transmission line. Right-of-way specialists play a critical role in obtaining the proper easements needed to begin construction. 

“Communication is key,” said Jerry Haas, Basin Electric senior property and right-of-way specialist. “It’s important to keep positive working relationships with landowners throughout the duration of the project so they know their concerns are being heard and know we’re doing our best to work with them along the way.”

The project team is taking steps to accelerate the construction schedule so the line can be energized in October 2024 rather than 2025 as first anticipated. Foundation crews of 15-20 personnel are currently onsite, and an additional 50-60 personnel will arrive with the structure setting and stringing crews.

The Williston Basin School District #7 school bond referendum to construct a new elementary building was approved by voters this week. The unofficial total was 2,379 Yes and 1,228 No, for a 66% margin of approval. 

The $35 million bond will provide funding for the construction and equipping of one new elementary school, the purchase of land for the new school, and improvements to existing school facilities. The chosen site for the new elementary school is in Williston Square (the old airport).

“I am extremely grateful to the Williston community for supporting the WBSD7 bond referendum," said Superintendent Dr. Faidley. "We pledge to continue our record of transparency and good stewardship of the Williston community bond funds with an on-time, on-budget construction of a new elementary school."

“Today is a great day for public education in Williston and a huge win for our students, teachers, and community," said WBSD7 Board President Kyle Renner. "The public's investment in this new elementary school has set the school district up to handle growth and make our elementary schools K-5 again.

“I am intensely proud of Williston voters for approving this bond referendum and ultimately making an investment in themselves and Williston’s future, through the academic achievements that will be manifested within this great facility," Board Vice President Chris Walstad said.

The estimated total cost of the new school is $55 million, with the district contributing $20 million from its building funds. The proposed school will be located on a 15-acre parcel in Williston Square, to be purchased at a cost of $1.2 million. The new building will have capacity for 600+ students and allow the district to bring fifth graders back into elementary schools from Williston Middle School Central Campus. It will also allow elementary facilities to operate at or below the goal of 25 students per classroom and start to reduce reliance on non-permanent modular classrooms, although they will not be removed until a second elementary project is approved.

The district's primary challenge is its growing enrollment. A recent demographic study projects an enrollment increase of about 1,000 students within the next five years. The current capacity allows for about 2,200 elementary students, including multiple modular classrooms.

North Dakota students are being taught HOW to think about science in the energy sector, not WHAT to think.

That's the gist of an effort from Kirsten Baesler, Superintendent of Public Instruction, who short-circuited the pending adoption of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) when she took office in 2013. Baesler, who grew up in Flasher, ND, said she competed in sports against students from Coal Country, and it gave her an appreciation for the importance of the industry to their families and communities. But, in an interview this week on the radio program Dakota Mornings, she said she truly became an advocate for the coal industry when she began her teaching career.

Click here to listen to Baesler's comments.

Baesler said when she began her role as superintendent with the Department of Public Instruction, the state was in the process of adopting the NGSS standards. But upon reviewing the material, Baesler said she spotted some red flags and stopped the process to consult with the Lignite Energy Council and the ND Petroleum Council.

Click here to listen to Baesler's comments.

Baesler said because the world is always changing, school curriculum changes with it. She said North Dakota classroom instructors develop the course materials, but DPI offers parents and the general public an opportunity to review and offer comments on the science standards.

Click here to listen to Baesler's comments.

Baesler said the same standards used to develop science curriculum are used in other areas of instruction in North Dakota.

Click here to listen to the full Dakota Mornings interview with Baesler.

The ND Department of Public instruction is offering $1 million in grants for North Dakota organizations to offer summer programs for K-12 students to learn about artificial intelligence, cybersecurity or STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

The money is available only for this year’s summer programs, meaning those that are held from May through September. Organizations that are eligible to apply include public and tribal schools or districts, colleges, city or county government agencies, and groups with experience in offering programs for K-12 students.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said grants may be used to start a program, or to maintain or strengthen an existing initiative. Organizations that intend to offer the programs in the future will be preferred in receiving grant awards.
The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. May 1.

The Department of Public Instruction’s website has the application and additional information about the program. The $1 million comes from a portion of the COVID-19 pandemic relief funds provided to the state of North Dakota.

It wasn't your ordinary ribbon cutting ceremony this week to celebrate the opening of the Bakken Area Skills Center in Watford City. In recognition of carpentry and other trades offered at the career academy, Gov. Doug Burgum sawed through a board to commemorate opening of the facility.

The center was built to increase the availability of career and technical education and training for high school students and existing workers throughout the Bakken region. It was completed late last year and began holding classes January 15.

"This facility will increase the availability of career and technical education and training for high school students and citizens throughout the Bakken region," Burgum said. "Projects like this being built across the state will help meet the educational needs of future generations and benefit our overall workforce. We're grateful for the support and work of countless private, public and post-secondary teams that brought this to fruition."

The Bakken Area Skills Center is a project of the McKenzie County School District #1. The facility covers 40,000 square feet on 40 acres of land near the Rough Rider Center and McKenzie County High School. There are four shop areas for building trades -- welding, auto/diesel mechanics, and automation. The facility also houses two complete health career classrooms for LPN and ADN programs. There are also two general rooms, two larger conference rooms, offices, a health screening room, testing area, four exterior pad areas, and a mobile trailer.

Click here to watch a Facebook video of the board cutting ceremony. Click here to learn more about the facility and the instruction if offers. Click here to see the BASC Facebook page.

ND Senator John Hoeven plans to partner with Wyoming Senator John Barrasso in an effort to block a final rule from the Biden Administration's Bureau of Land Management that would establish "conservation leases" on the more than 245 million acres of public land in the United States.

The conservation leases would lock away federal lands in conflict with the longstanding tradition of multiple use requirements established by Congress. Hoeven and Barrasso will introduce a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval to repeal the rule.

“Congress has mandated that taxpayer-owned lands be available for grazing, energy production, recreation and other uses, which is particularly important in North Dakota and other western states that depend on access to federal lands,” Hoeven said. “The Biden administration’s public lands rule would lock away federal lands in direct conflict with the longstanding multiple use law, which is why Senator Barrasso and I will introduce legislation to stop this onerous rule.”

After BLM issued the proposed rule last year, Hoeven submitted language to the Interior Appropriations Bill prohibiting the use of funds to further develop, implement or enforce the rule, and led a Congressional comment letter opposing the rule and asking that it be withdrawn.

Click here to read the BLM's FAQ on conservation leasing.

By Jeff Beach | North Dakota Monitor

North Dakota regulators have set hearing dates to review Summit Carbon Solutions' application for underground carbon dioxide storage wells, the end point for a carbon dioxide capture pipeline system connecting ethanol plants in five states. 

The Department of Mineral Resources has set hearings for June 11 and 12. The meetings are at 9:00 a.m. each day at the North Dakota Oil & Gas Division, 1000 E. Calgary Ave., Bismarck. The public can listen live through the department’s YouTube channel. Summit’s applications can be found on the Mineral Resources website. 

The underground storage area is at the intersection of Oliver, Mercer and Morton counties. Summit has been negotiating easement agreements in the storage area and this month held meetings with landowners. 

“We’re over 90% in the storage area of easements that we need,” Summit CEO Lee Blank told the North Dakota Monitor. 

The application will need the approval of the North Dakota Industrial Commission, comprised of Gov. Doug Burgum, Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. In almost all states, an application for what is known as a Class VI well would have to be approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. North Dakota in 2018 became the first state to win approval from the EPA to issue its own Class VI permits. North Dakota has issued other permits for underground storage of CO2, including two ethanol plants. 

A map of the Summit plan shows three injection points for the carbon dioxide. The Summit project has grown in recent months to more than 50 ethanol plants in five states, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. North Dakota has one plant committed to the project, Tharaldson Ethanol at Casselton. 

Public Service Commission hearings on the pipeline portion of the project are to begin Monday in Mandan. 

by Jared Strong | Iowa Capital Dispatch

An Arkansas pipe manufacturer is seeking more than $15 million from a company that wants to build a carbon dioxide pipeline system in Iowa amid delays of their agreement, according to a lawsuit filed this week.

The lawsuit filed by Welspun Tubular says Summit Carbon Solutions commissioned the company to produce about 785 miles of pipe, starting in May 2023, at a total cost of about $183 million. But Summit’s project — a 2,500-mile pipeline network in five states — has taken longer to get potential approval than the company initially anticipated. It now says construction might begin early next year.

A purchase agreement between the two companies allowed Summit to delay pipe production for up to six months until November 2023, according to the lawsuit complaint filed in state court in Delaware, where Welspun is incorporated. Welspun was able to further delay the start of production to early 2024 by manufacturing pipe for others, to which Summit agreed, court records show. But when Welspun notified Summit that it planned to proceed with production in February, Summit sought to delay again, according to the lawsuit.

“Summit asked to discuss the status of the project, and those discussions revealed that the project was dramatically off-schedule,” the lawsuit says.

In February, Summit canceled the agreement, according to the lawsuit. Welspun claims that entitles it to a $15 million cancellation charge and partial reimbursement for materials it obtained to manufacture the pipe. Summit disagrees that it owes the money and hopes to find a compromise.

“Our current dispute with Welspun Tubular revolves around timing issues related to pipe delivery,” the company said in a prepared statement. “We’re committed to resolving this matter swiftly, and our intention to collaborate with Welspun remains unchanged.”

Summit’s $8.5 billion pipeline system would transport captured carbon dioxide from ethanol plants to North Dakota for underground sequestration. The Iowa Utilities Board is poised to decide whether to issue the company a hazardous liquid pipeline permit. State regulators in North and South Dakota rejected the company’s initial pipeline routes. North Dakota is reconsidering a revised plan, and Summit has said it intends to file a new permit request in South Dakota.

This story was originally published on Iowa Capital Dispatch and republished with the common content license. The Iowa Capital Dispatch is an affiliate of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, supported by grants and donations. 

By ND Congressman Kelly Armstrong | The Washington Times

North Dakotans are a major contributor to increased U.S. energy production and we help the United States lead in emissions reduction across the world. Despite the narrative coming from the environmentalist left, the United States has proven that the best way to reduce emissions is to empower innovation and technological advancements, not double down on onerous regulations that do nothing to keep the air and water clean.

In North Dakota, our energy sector has been the driver of our state’s economic prosperity for years. Our resources have strengthened national security and have helped our country achieve energy independence.

However, it has become abundantly clear that President Biden is waging a full-on war with the energy sector. The administration has put the agenda of radical environmentalists above hardworking Americans and their families. The administration’s policies have forced the world to become more reliant on energy from our adversaries, which has damaged American energy security and advancement.

This administration has consistently shown that it will disregard commonsense and kowtow to the radical left. President Biden‘s ban on LNG exports in February, for example, was an insult to American energy producers and a gift to our adversaries. The ban benched our leading energy producers just as we were stabilizing global demand while meeting record emissions standards. The decision to take U.S. LNG exports offline created a void that was quickly filled by our adversaries. As the rest of the world continues to use natural gas, it is now being supplied by Russia and Middle Eastern countries that produce energy less responsibly and fund anti-American activities around the world.

As a response to the ridiculous ban, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing in February titled, “Politics Over People: How Biden‘s LNG Export Ban Threatens America’s Energy and Economic Security.” During this hearing, I spoke about how the Biden administration’s decision to ban future permits for LNG facilities decreases incentives for U.S. energy producers, which will undermine our domestic energy supply and national security.

More recently, I was proud to support House Resolution 987 “Denouncing the harmful, anti-American energy policies of the Biden administration.” This resolution would condemn the energy and federal land policies of the Biden administration. It also encourages the domestic production of reliable and affordable energy generation sources.

Read the rest here.

Meridian Energy Group has announced new design modifications to its proposed Davis Refinery near Belfield that will incorporate additional vegetable oil co-processing that will further reduce the carbon intensity of the facility. 

“Meridian has now determined that up to 20% (4,000 bpd) of the capacity of the Diesel Hydrotreater can be allocated to process vegetable oil,” Mark Fonda, Meridian’s EVP and Chief Technology Officer said. “This allows us to not only meet our credit balance under the Renewable Fuel Standard, but to also offset our Scope 1 CO2 emissions. This enables the refining industry to accelerate decarbonization and to play an even greater role in the transition to a carbon neutral future.”

Davis, permitted to refine 49,500 barrels per day, is the first full-conversion refinery ever permitted as a synthetic minor source and the only refinery ever to meet the Class 1 Air Quality standards of the Environmental Protection Agency. 

“The Davis design includes implementation of state-of-the-art, Lowest Achievable Emission Rate technology and Best Available Control Technology,” said Dr. Anand Karre, Meridian’s Environmental Manager. “This includes Ultra-low-NOx burners, Selective Catalytic Reduction, Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems, Enhanced LDAR optical gas imaging, Cascade Flare System with Vapor Recovery and elimination of Evaporative Circulating Cooling Water using only Fin-Fan Air Coolers.”

Meridian CEO William Prentice said Davis will soon come to fruition as major equipment purchases are initiated and as Meridian resumes field construction activities this summer.

“Even after having obtained all the requisite permits, and after successfully defending those permits, Meridian has continued to improve the design for Davis and further reduce GHG and other emissions,” Prentice said. “Among other things, this latest development also means that the Davis Refinery will become an even larger market for North Dakota’s agricultural products.”

Click here to learn more about the proposed refinery.

Vision West ND has announced the consortium's annual Summit on Behavioral Health in Energy Country will be held June 19- 20 at the Astoria Hotel & Event Center in Dickinson.

The event brings together professionals, community leaders, and advocates to address the pressing behavioral health challenges facing the region. The 2024 Summit features a gathering of minds and ideas, focusing on addressing and advancing solutions to behavioral health issues. Over two days, attendees will engage in experiential and clinical storytelling, listen to expert panels, enjoy keynote addresses, and have many networking opportunities.

Event Highlights
• Day 1: Experiential Storytelling will shine a light on personal and community stories, offering insight into the human side of behavioral health challenges and triumphs.
• Day 2: Clinical Storytelling will focus on the scientific and clinical approaches to behavioral health, highlighting the latest research, strategies, and interventions.

Keynote speakers Gaelin Elmore, a motivational speaker and advocate for change, and Jonah Paquette, Psy.D., a respected psychologist and expert on happiness, will lead a roster of distinguished speakers and panelists from a wide range of disciplines related to behavioral health.

Click here for more information about the Summit on Behavioral Health in Energy Country, including registration details and how to become an exhibitor or sponsor. 

Gov. Doug Burgum, Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller and state agency officials led a groundbreaking ceremony this week for the new North Dakota state laboratory, located northeast of the Capitol.

The event marked a significant milestone in the state's commitment to advancing public health and preserving environmental quality in North Dakota.

"Whether they know it or not, every North Dakotan benefits from the State Laboratory, from water and air quality testing to disease prevention and control efforts in collaboration with community partners," Burgum said. "We're excited to embark on this transformative and historic project, which underscores our commitment to ensuring the health and safety of all North Dakotans. The new state laboratory will allow for safer and more efficient workflow while also enhancing our capabilities to respond effectively to emerging public health challenges and environmental threats."

State legislators, cabinet members and leadership from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services and the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality also gathered to commemorate the momentous occasion. Miller, who chairs the State Laboratory Steering Committee and the Capitol Grounds Planning Commission, emphasized the strategic significance of the chosen location and design. 

"By locating the new state laboratory within the Capitol grounds, we're maximizing productivity, minimizing costs and fostering collaboration between key government agencies," Miller stated.

The groundbreaking ceremony featured remarks from key officials, including Health and Human Services Commissioner Wayne Salter, State Health Officer Dr. Nizar Wehbi and Environmental Quality Director David Glatt, highlighting the pivotal role of the State Laboratory in safeguarding public health and environmental quality. The $70 million facility is being built with federal funds and is slated to commence construction this month, with completion expected by June 2026.

Click here for more information about the North Dakota State Laboratory project is available on the Health and Human Services website.

County road managers and oil industry trucking interests will have an opportunity to discuss common concerns and share best practices at a Western Energy Roundtable set for May 22 at the Rough Rider Center in Watford City. 

The event is co-hosted by the Western Dakota Energy Association and the ND Local Technical Assistance Program. The event will get underway at 10:00 a.m. with an operations overview from the ND Department of Transportation. WDEA will also provide an update on its recent activities.

The agenda also includes a law enforcement panel that will discuss issues in the oilpatch, a presentation on carbon education and marketing, and a preview of issues likely to come up in the 2025 Legislature. The program also includes a panel on oversize truck permitting, an oil industry panel, and an update from MHA Nation and its road department. The event concludes with an open mic discussion of other issues of concern.

Registration is free and lunch will be provided. Interested persons are urged to register early so name tags can be prepared and organizers can get an accurate headcount for lunch.

Click here for more information or to register.

A stretch of mild Spring temperatures took a turn south this week, as a cold front brought in much cooler weather, along with a some interesting cloud formations and a few sporadic snow squalls. Images of some of the turbulent weather were captured by the high-resolution cameras on Wise Roads weather stations. Photos from Wise Roads cameras are updated continuously throughout the daylight hours on the Wise Roads web page.

The Wise Roads project (Weather Information System to Effectively Reduce Oilfield Delays and Disruptions) was developed by WDEA to increase the efficiency of the movement of oilfield truck traffic. Most weather stations were placed in the core area of Bakken production, focusing on Dunn, McKenzie, Mountrail and Williams Counties. The project provides more accurate weather information to county road managers, especially about rain events, to minimize the need to impose weight restrictions when gravel roads get wet. It was developed in partnership with NDAWN, which maintains the stations for WDEA. The project was also assisted with a $250,000 grant from the Oil & Gas Research Council.

Fifty new stations have been installed, 39 of which are located in the four core oil-producing counties. Prior to the start of the project, Dunn and McKenzie Counties had just one station each, Mountrail County had three and Williams County had four. Weather station data and high-resolution photos can be found at wiseroadsnd.com. Additional information is also available from NDAWN. 

Featured shots this week are clockwise from upper left: Pioneer, with a layer of stratocumulus clouds; Williston, with a spring shower on the horizon; Palermo, with an intense snow squall reducing visibility; and Palermo, just 10 minutes later after the squall moved through. Click on the link for a high-resolution image.