North Dakota

Older Oil Tank Rail Cars Face Three-Year Deadline to be Replaced

Following up on last month's emergency rule addressing trains speeds, the Transportation Department issued new rules addressing tanker car standards, long thought to be one of the most important factors contributing to fiery oil tank car explosions.

May 4, 2015 - The New York Time - Energy & Environment

Cause of Crude-by-Rail Explosions Identified

The Wall Street Journal's senior energy reporter, Russell Gold, is interviewed on NPR about the February 16 derailment and explosion in West Virginia of an oil-train hauling 109 tanker cars of Bakken crude from North Dakota.

March 6, 2015 - NPR

Oil Train Derailment in W.Va. Results in Fiery Explosion and Oil Spill

A 109-car oil train carrying crude from North Dakota derailed Monday afternoon, causing a fireball that was still burning Tuesday morning. Initial reports had at least one tanker leaking oil into a tributary of the Kanawha River, closing water plants

February 17, 2015 - The Charleston Gazette

Sunshine State Overtakes Empire State as Third Most Populous State

William H. Frey, Brookings Institution demographer, writes on the latest Census Bureau demographic data. California and Texas remain number one and two respectively. New York had 19.7 million residents on July 1, 2014, Florida 19.9 million people.

January 4, 2015 - Brookings

Plummeting Oil Prices Bring Economic Challenges to U.S. Petro-States

While U.S. motorists are enjoying the cheapest gas prices in five years, domestic oil producers are suffering, though not as badly as oil-exporting nations like Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. How are Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota, and Alaska faring?

December 29, 2014 - The New York Times

North Dakota to Reduce Volatility of Bakken Crude-By-Rail

Bakken crude is considered more volatile than other types of oil, which presents a safety problem when moved by rail. New regulations approved Tuesday require oil producers to separate flammable and volatile liquids prior to shipment by rail.

December 11, 2014 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

Motorists have OPEC to Thank for Lowest Oil Prices in Five Years

American motorists are enjoying the lowest gasoline prices in five years because OPEC chose not to reduce oil output in the hopes that decreased oil prices will be lower than the cost needed to frack oil from shale.

December 2, 2014 - Vox

Campaign 2014 Results: Transportation, Energy, Conservation Measures

We've covered a wide variety of ballot measures that appeared on the Nov. 4, 2014 ballot. While the media has focused greatly on Congressional and gubernatorial outcomes, we'll look at the results of the state and local measures we've covered here.

November 6, 2014 - T4America Blog

Campaign 2014: Controversial Conservation Ballot in North Dakota

Should the state dedicate five percent of its substantial oil and natural gas taxes to conservation efforts? Outdoors groups, hunters, and environmental activists say yes; energy companies say no, and millions of dollars are being spent on each side.

November 3, 2014 - Governing

Fracking's Formidable Foe

The worthy foe is not environmental regulations nor the the government or public demanding fracking moratoriums and bans. It is the falling global price of oil. Two radio reports explore how the global glut of oil affects U.S. shale oil production.

October 16, 2014 - NPR

California Refineries Prepare to Receive Cheaper Crude-by-Rail

The surge in oil production has not benefited California, but that's about to change. Shale oil from North Dakota and other states costs $15 less than imported oil. After transportation costs, California refineries would save $3 per barrel.

October 10, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

America's Energy Bust

Unlike Texas and N.D, Alaska's oil production peaked in 1988 and continues to decline. An upcoming referendum on oil taxes threatens to reduce energy investment. The North Slope pipeline is carrying such low oil volumes to endanger its safety.

August 14, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Welcome to North Dakota

Life in 'America's New Gold Rush City'

A dispatch from Williston, North Dakota, the epicenter of boom conditions compared to the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 19th century. Whether the city has benefitted or suffered from the current oil boom, is a matter of perspective.

July 31, 2014 - Guardian Cities

Oil and Rail Industries Agree to Phase Out Oldest Rail Oil Tank Cars

A deal may be near between energy and rail industries and the Department of Transportation to phase out the DOT-111 tank car—the same kind implicated in the horrific explosions of oil trains, particularly those carry Bakken crude from North Dakota.

July 23, 2014 - Bloomberg BusinessWeek

North Dakota 'Man Rush' Compared to Historic Population Booms

Jens Manual Krogstad provides historical context for the migration to oil boom jobs in North Dakota by comparing the current "man rush" to the silver rush in late 1800s Colorado and the Alaskan oil boom of the 1970s.

July 17, 2014 - Pew Research Center

Proposed Pipeline Poses Dilemma for Keystone Pipeline-Supporting Governor

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad supports the Keystone XL Pipeline, as do most Republican leaders. Then again, it doesn't go through his state. Not so for the newly proposed Bakken Pipeline that cuts across the heart of Iowa. No word on his position yet.

July 16, 2014 - The Des Moines Register

Bakken Oil Boom Straining Rural Communities

Joe Eaton reports from Bainville, Montana, which is suffering the effects of the Bakken oil boom, although the majority of the Bakken wells, and its corresponding tax revenue, are in North Dakota.

July 12, 2014 - National Geographic

New Census Data Shows the Country's Age

Christopher Ingraham breaks down recent data from the U.S. Census that shows which counties are getting younger and which are getting older.

July 4, 2014 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Oil Tanker Cars Derail; Fireball Erupts in Downtown Lynchburg, Va.

Fortunately, there were no injuries in the restored, downtown waterfront district in this city of 71,000. Fifteen cars derailed; three exploded into a six-story-high fireball. Oil spilled into the James River, threatening downstream water supplies.

May 2, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Crude-by-Rail Volume to California Spiked Almost 800% Last Year

All but 10% of the CBR went to Southern California refineries, though Bay Area shipments grew by 57% and provoked the largest outcry. The Northern California deliveries are mostly from North Dakota, with 12.5% from Colorado.

March 20, 2014 - Contra Costa Times

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