The Minnesota deficit is forecast to grow to $6.2 billion. Like all good essays, the writer provides three reasons, but the fact is that the number one reason is the expiration of federal stimulus programs. It should be noted that based on historical voting patterns, Minnesotans would also put a moratorium on hydraulic fracking if there was any fracking in the state to halt.
Fargo-based Green Vision Group plans to build a demonstration facility to test the effectiveness and efficiency of turning sugar beets into ethanol. This, despite the fact, that we now know that it takes slightly more energy to make ethanol from corn than ethanol provides. Maybe they could use corn-derived ethanol to power the sugar beet derived ethanol plants.
The Federal government has put a halt to "fast-track" wind energy programs in California due to concerns that the turbines could slaughter -- their term, not mine -- protected golden eagles. At least one group has hailed this decision: the North Dakota bald eagles. Their concern was the possibility that wind turbines might turn golden eagles into bald eagles. Permits for wind turbines have been suspended indefinitely; the projects will likely miss year-end deadline for federal government stimulus programs. (Hey, I know a state that could use those federal stimulus programs. I won't mention the state but a hint: Brett Favre saw the writing on the wall when record-setting snowfall cancelled a home game.)
Several regional papers are now reporting California-based Occidental's $1.4 billion deal to buy 180,000 mineral rights acreage in North Dakota. Meanwhile, a few more North Dakota millionaires will be moving to California (or Hawaii).
From the Billings Gazette: local man charged in hot cocoa robbery; bond was set for $125,000. No comment.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries will open in Grand Forks. Hey, what about Williston for all the frack crews, roughnecks, truck drivers, and bankers?
A new Love's Travel Stop and Country Store opened in Fargo in mid-November. I have no idea why the story took so long to make front page news. This may be the reason:
According to company spokeswoman Jenny Love Meyer, the new location is actually different from most Love’s locations.I can't make this stuff up. The spokesman said "one of the big things Love's Travel Stops aim to do is to meet the needs of everyone who stops." In this case, Love's hopes to meet the needs of those traveling either north or south.
Most Love’s stores are located on east-west interstates, and this is the first on I-29, she said.
I would not be a bit surprised if the spokeswoman for Love's was a Miss America contestant at some point in the past.
enjoy your posts but disagree with the ethanol taking more energy in than it puts out . that is based on corn yields of decades ago when yields were much lower and fertilizer use was higher. % ethanol yields from fermentation are also much higher now .hopefully this will all yield to switch grass use ,etc.keep up the good work .jj
ReplyDeletei bet some day in the future Miss South Carolina 2007 becomes in charge of a group that searchs for Senate Intelligence..
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words.
ReplyDeleteSenate Intelligence is, of course, an oxymoron; and it is very possible she is already serving as a consultant to the US government on this very issue. (It's very possible she is working for the State Department based on her response to a question about world geography.)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by; thanks for reading that post to the end.