CLR -- New Permits -- 2026

Locator: 50279CLR.

Movie Night -- The Apartment -- March 20, 2026

Locator: 50278MOVIE.

TCM tonight. 

I've watched this movie a dozen times in the past couple of years. I may now enjoy this movie more than Casablanca. How do I know? If Casablanca and The Apartment were opposite each other tonight, I'm more in the mood to watch The Apartment. Hard to believe. 

AI prompt: On all the best movie lists, how does "The Apartment" tend to rank?

Reply:

Oscars:

• Casablanca: 3
• The Apartment: 5

"Gets the girl": 

• Casablanca: No.
• The Apartment: Yes.

HEB Signs Are Up -- Hurst - Euless - Bedford -- Texas -- March 20, 2026

Locator: 50277HEB.

Currently: a two-minute bike ride to the new HEB. In addition, a one-minute ride to Target; a four-minute bike ride to Walmart. A five-minute bike ride to Albertson's / Tom Thumb (similar to a Kroger's). 

HEB signs are going up.

************************
Sign Of The Times

Diesel generators to guarantee power if the grid goes down for any reason. 

Three New Permits; WTI Surges At End Of Day -- March 20, 2026

Locator: 50276B.

WTI: $98.23. Up almost $3 at the end of the day. 

Netanyahu wants to dial it back after a lecture from Trump, but Iran appears to be doubling down, continues to wreak havoc on energy sites among neighbors. The GCC won't let Trump leave until this is sorted out. 

Trump could take the gloves off if any US Marines are hit. 

Or if holy sites in Israel are hit. The "Wailing Wall" was within 300 yards of being destroyed today (an accidental / collateral hit). 

Active rigs: 25. 

Three new permits, #42777 - #31780, inclusive:

• Operators: CLR (2); Silver Hill Energy;
• Fields: Beaver Lodge (Williams); Gros Ventre (Burke)
• Comments:
• Silver Hill Energy has a permit for an MT E permit, NWNE 24-159-93, 
• to be sited 465 FNL and 1535 FEL; 1920-acre spacing;
• CLR has permits for two Langved wells, SESW 2-155-95, 
• to be sited 420 FSL and 2555 / 2619 FWL; 1920-acre spacing. 

Alison's Quick Connects -- March 20, 2026

Locator: 50275B.

Quick connect links: 

• EPA change to mercury emissions rules a win for North Dakota lignite -- Bismarck Tribune

• Here's what we learned about the Oliver County data center debate -- Bismarck Tribune

• Higher oil prices don't equate to more activity, especially in the Bakken -- KFYR-TV

• Applied Digital eyes potential third facility in North Dakota north of Bismarck -- WDAY

• Bakken wastewater could mean Fargo company depends less on China for lithium imports -- Prairie Public

• Transparency a concern as ND agency ends oil lease auction notices in newspapers -- North Dakota Monitor

• State, Feds reach settlement following lawsuit involving DAPL protests according to Wrigley -- KFYR-TV

• Lignite Energy Council names Laumb as vice president of research and development -- Minot Daily News

• PSC seeks to gather comments on utility protection plans at March 31 public hearing -- Minot Daily News

• Xcel Energy natural gas customers to see their rates go up more than 10% on April 1 -- North Dakota Monitor

• North Dakota oil experts give first monthly briefing since the start of U.S.-Israeli war with Iran -- InForum

• Basin Electric, PSC set to discuss a cross-country electric project in northwest North Dakota -- KFYR-TV

• North Dakota crude output is expected to rise in March and for the next following months -- Reuters

• There are now hundreds more inactive wells in western North Dakota in latest energy report -- KX News

• Project Tundra $250M loan tap extended again; state CO2 capture effort to be revised -- Bismarck Tribune

• Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply to receive $108 million in federal funding -- InForum

• North Dakota's Military Gallery awareness effort hitting the road with 48-stop tour -- North Dakota Monitor

• Iran war drives up fertilizer and fuel costs for farmers across the region by as much as 36% -- InForum

• Bomb threat reported at the Capitol under investigation by North Dakota State Patrol -- North Dakota Monitor

• North Dakota House Speaker Robin Weisz announces bid for majority leader -- Bismarck Tribune

• North Dakota needs $20 million more for homeowner tax credits; total cost of $430M -- North Dakota Monitor

• State revenues on target amidst unpredictable oil prices; officials urged caution -- North Dakota Monitor

• Control of resource-rich North Dakota riverbed has slipped from tribal hands and gone to state -- E&E News

• America's 250th birthday flag flies in Bismarck, continuing journey to all 50 states -- North Dakota Monitor

• Longtime state Rep. Lois Delmore was 'easily one of state's most respected legislators' -- Dickinson Press

• First federal rural health grants available in ND aim to boost hospital workforce -- North Dakota Monitor

• Western North Dakota set for mixed temperatures in spring, but a warmer summer -- Bismarck Tribune

• Federal Highway Administration awards $2M to Spirit Lake and Standing Rock Sioux Tribes -- Kevin Cramer

• Concerns raised over proposed election ordinance for Three Affiliated Tribes -- McKenzie County Farmer

• District 1 Republicans endorse newcomer Laurie Garbel as candidate for ND House race -- Williston Herald

• New warehouse brings oil field chemicals closer to Bakken service companies -- Williston Herald

• Mercer County zoning board establishes committee on data centers during moratorium -- The Beacon

• Anyone wanting to run for county or city office in North Dakota has three weeks to get on ballot -- The Journal

• Medora glamping proposal advances as officials review permits, infrastructure needs -- Dickinson Press

• Chat with Dustin Dassinger: Dickinson's city administrator shares his life, work, vision -- Dickinson Press

• Committee names 3 finalists to be next president of North Dakota State University -- North Dakota Monitor

• Divide schools plan community survey to gauge public interest in four day school week -- The Journal

• Ray Public School staff says student cellphone ban has been having positive effects -- The Journal

• Divide schools begin pilot implementation of student, teacher coaching and support initiative -- The Journal

• Williston High School's aviation students are getting a first-hand look at how aircraft are made -- KFYR-TV

• Minot Public Schools seek community feedback on logo amid trademark dispute with U of M -- KFYR-TV

• Tioga's superintendent received satisfactory marks in his evaluation from the school board -- Williston Herald

• Feasibility study on four-day week for Williston Basin School District currently underway -- Williston Herald

• I run a fracking company ? New York banned the industry and stuck the poor with the bill -- Fox News

• US stocks climb to their best day since the Iran war began after oil prices ease -- KX News

• Pain of soaring gas prices compounded by electricity rate increases across states -- North Dakota Monitor

• Investor-owned utility profits have soared as consumer utility bills have skyrocketed -- North Dakota Monitor

• Interest in Alaska LNG export project spikes after war in Middle East choked 20% of global supply -- Oil Price

• China remains publicly silent after Trump urges Beijing to help reopen Strait of Hormuz -- Oil Price

• US House approves intensifying sanctions on Iranian oil as Middle East conflict rages on -- E&E News

• Admin secures $56B in investments to support US energy projects during summit in Tokyo -- E&E News

• Coal is rebounding in the US thanks to rising natural gas prices and the explosion of data centers -- Time

• Coal power is in a fight for its life. It needs "boots on the ground" from the industry. -- RealClearEnergy

• Trump promises oil prices will come down; prices rise as Straits of Hormuz remain blocked -- KFYR-TV

• In an unstable world, American energy leadership is economic opportunity and strategic advantage -- The Hill

• US Treasury eases sanctions on some Venezuelan oil companies in bid to help global oil supply -- The Hill

• Advocacy groups seek to block emergency orders extending lifespan of two coal power plants -- E&E News

• China expanded its crude oil stockpiles over the first two months of the year, built massive buffer -- Oil Price

• US crude inventories estimated to rise 6.556M barrels in surprise build of significant magnitude -- Oil Price

• Recent oil and gas drilling rights sale over contentious Alaska area generates record revenue -- The Hill

• Vance, Burgum, Wright are meeting with oil executives as prices soar over the conflict in Iran -- The Hill

• Threat to US fuel supplies from Middle East conflict small thanks to domestic production -- RealClearEnergy

• Oil prices could soar to $150 per barrel or more if Middle East war continues until end of March -- Oil Price

• Indiana tornado destroys billion dollar solar farm, nearby coal-fired plant still standing -- Energy Bad Boys

• House Energy Chairman: Greenhouse gas protocol driving up costs, harming American jobs -- Breitbart

• Trump steamrolls California's anti-fossil fuel crusade to get oil flowing from offshore rigs -- Just The News

• Fear machine: How activist misinformation manufactures climate anxiety in American youth -- Townhall