Friday, May 15, 2026

Alison's Quick Connects -- May 15, 2026

Locator: 50823B. 

Quick connects:

Data center dilemma: Who decides where they go in North Dakota? -- North Dakota Monitor
Construction underway on Basin Electric's massive $4 billion power plant -- Bismarck Tribune
Judge agrees to toss $28M judgment related to DAPL protests -- North Dakota Monitor
North Dakota oil technology could aid geothermal energy development -- Bismarck Tribune
WBI Energy's proposed $3.2 billion Bakken East Pipeline draws strong shipper interest -- pgjonline.com
If Bakken East gas line is built, state should similarly back a line to Grand Forks -- Grand Forks Herald
Energy and Environmental Research Center forced to cut staff due to funding delays -- Bismarck Tribune
Could canceled mine project offer roadmap for opponents of new South Dakota oil pipeline -- The Guardian
What does the Public Service Commission actually regulate in the data center boom? -- Grand Forks Herald
Summit pipeline rerouted to storage site in Wyoming; North Dakota future unclear -- North Dakota Monitor
Forest Service dedicated to reclaiming oil sites in Little Missouri Nat'l Grassland -- Dickinson Press
BLM teeing up another round of oil leasing; 66 parcels across MT and ND headed for auction -- Oil Price
Opinion: What the history of the Powerline War can tell us about North Dakota's future -- InForum
North Dakota governor contributes nearly $200,000 to 20 allies, reports show -- North Dakota Monitor
North Dakota judge Daniel Traynor nominated to serve on Eighth Circuit US Court of Appeals -- KFYR-TV
Rep. Julie Fedorchak promotes Trump Accounts as investing in kids' futures -- North Dakota Monitor
Preliminary report offers details in Minnesota plane crash that killed ND Rep. Liz Conmy -- Dickinson Press
State workforce will shrink by 101 employees after a round of buyouts is completed -- North Dakota Monitor
Growing number of Republican incumbents aren't seeking party endorsements -- Grand Forks Herald
Behind the Drought Monitor: Insights from the North Dakota State Climatologist Daryl Ritchison -- KX News
Tribal law enforcement academy to be located at Camp Grafton in North Dakota -- Bismarck Tribune
Candidates Alex Balazs and Julie Fedorchak prepare for second primary faceoff -- Dickinson Press
Governor Armstrong orders half-staff flags for national Peace Officers Memorial Day -- Dickinson Press
Drivers in northwest North Dakota urged to stay off roads; blowing dirt hampers visibility -- Valley News Live
Additional $20 million in federal rural health grants announced for North Dakota -- Bismarck Tribune
No injuries in industrial fire in Williston; evacuations unnecessary due to risk level -- Bismarck Tribune
Firefighters try to push back on fast-moving fire near Grenora in busy week for northwest ND -- KFYR-TV
Williston to seek new finance director and auditor as Hercules Cummings submits resignation -- KFYR-TV
Senator Hoeven working to secure federal support for new facilities at Dickinson Airport -- John Hoeven
$100K winning Powerball ticket was sold at a Williston gas station over the weekend -- Williston Herald
Kind Hearts Project to host annual 100-bike giveaway for children at Legacy Square -- Dickinson Press
Minot City Council is set to finalize its $888 million five-year Capital Improvement Plan -- KX News
Ray kicks off community complex project including football, baseball fields, plaza, pool -- Williston Herald
Community leaders and business professionals gathered for State of Region 8 -- Bowman County Pioneer
Free school meals measure in North Dakota approved for November vote -- North Dakota Monitor
North Dakota ranked 41st in nation for teacher salaries over 2024-2025 school year -- North Dakota Monitor
Federal cuts would be 'death knell' for ND tribal colleges, campus presidents say -- North Dakota Monitor
State superintendent candidate: 'We've got a major decline in our educational system' -- Williston Herald
Verlinde, Kruger in contested race for school board; Divide County has 3 seats up for grabs -- The Journal
One write-in candidate was among the two winners in Ray Public School board election -- The Journal
Watford City High School senior awards night reaches historic scholarship totals -- McKenzie County Farmer
Union representing teachers in Minot Public Schools ratified a new contract, includes pay raise -- KFYR-TV
State superintendent wraps up schools tour for the year in Fargo having visited 50 districts -- Williston Herald
Williston State College cuts ribbon for Jane S. Nelson Healthcare Training Facility -- Williston Herald
Trump says Iran ceasefire is on 'life support' and proposes gas tax pause as strait stays closed -- KFYR-TV
Millions of Americans are unknowingly financing electric grid projects before they get any benefit -- Reuters
Global coal shipments surge as buyers scrambled for fuel amid massively disrupted oil supply -- Oil Price
OPEC output declined to lowest level since 2000; production fell by 830,000 barrels per day -- Oil Price
EIA launches new oil, LNG chokepoint datasets amid ongoing disruption from Hormuz crisis -- World Oil
Recent poll shows close to half of Americans are strongly against AI data centers in their area -- The Hill
Trump says temporarily suspending federal 18.4 cent/gallon gasoline tax 'a great idea' -- Just The News
Global oil demand set to exceed supply in the current year amid ongoing Middle East conflict -- Oil Price
US energy production climbed to fresh all-time high in 2025 for the fourth consecutive year -- E&E News
Ottawa and Alberta meet to advance plans for a major, new 1 million barrel per day oil pipeline -- Oil Price
EPA head Zeldin details how tax dollars funded activists and wasteful green energy schemes -- Breitbart

End-Of-Day Report -- May 15, 2026

Locator: 50822B.

WTI: $105.60.

Active rigs: 22.

Four new permits, #42942 - #42945, inclusive:

  • Operators: Oasis (3); Devon Energy
  • Fields: Gros Venture (Burke); Cottonwood (Burke); and, Camp (McKenzie)
  • Comments: the new permits:
    • 42942, loc, Devon Energy, Lindvig North 14-15-16-17F-5H, Camp, NESE 152-101-14, 2584 FSL and 1162 FEL;
    • 42943, loc, Oasis, Isabella 6093 43-36-2BX, Gros Ventre, SWSE 160-93-36, 701 FSL and 2519 FEL;
    • 42944, loc, Oasis, Isabella 6093 43-36-3B, Gros Ventre, SWSE 160-93-36, 682 FSL and 2492 FEL;
    • 42945, loc, Oasis, Isabella 6093 43-36-4BX, Gros Ventre, SWSE 160-93-36, 663 FSL and 2465FEL;

Sixteen permits canceled:

  • SOGC: six Yauch permits; six Forest USA permits; two Horovitz permits; and, two Diamond permits.

Market Today -- Trump's Visit To China -- May 15, 2026

Locator: 50821CHINA.

Personal portfolio:

  • I expected a loss of as much as 2% when I saw the price of oil and the market indices at the open;
  • in fact, my portfolio closed the day down 0.35% which I consider a huge win

Trump's trip to China:

  • at best I thought Trump might break even;
  • I assumed Trump was going to come away worse than he did
  • nightly news reporting: networks seemed to have trouble coming up with negative stories
  • mostly a break-even trip;
  • I expected much, much worse.
  • in the big scheme of things: a nothing-burger.  

Taiwan:

  • if done like Hong Kong, Trump seems to exude a willingness to support Number Eleven
  • quick: who's the elected leader of Taiwan? 

BRK's Power Bet -- An Analysis -- May 15, 2026

Locator: 50820BRK.

BRK-B this past year: there seems to be a pattern --

Link here

When I listened to Greg Abel's comments at the annual meeting just a week or so ago, I had the same thoughts.

MMF -- Flat -- Minimal Change Week Over Week -- May 15, 2026

Locator: 50819MMF.

TAG: MMFs MMF 

My favorite chart. 

The US equity markets have been on fire the past couple of weeks. 

Link here