Alison's Quick Connects -- Friday, April 17, 2026

Locator: 50567B.

Alison's top quick connect below: 

As of early 2026, the largest power generator in North Dakota is the Coal Creek Station. It is a 1,150-megawatt (MW) lignite coal-fired plant located near Underwood. Let's round the "1,150" to 1,000.

However, the under-construction Bison Generation Station in Williams County is set to become the new largest, projected to produce 1,490 MW of natural gas power by 2030. Let's round the 1,490 to 1,500.

Alison's quick connects:

• Basin Electric to break ground on its largest power plant this spring -- Minot Daily News

• Scott Hennen: Let's celebrate a North Dakota milestone in oil production -- InForum

• Bakken gas capacity set to rise as Bison XPress nears full service -- Pipeline & Gas Journal

• The Bakken is known for its oil, but it also produces coal, helium and potash. -- KFYR-TV

• Tesla sues North Dakota as it seeks to open car dealerships in Bismarck, Fargo -- North Dakota Monitor

• Trump issues several pipeline permits, authorizes Bakken Pipeline Company construction -- Reuters

• Energy takes center stage in Minot as community members gathered to discuss industry's future -- KX News

• Current state of gas prices and why they aren't lower despite North Dakota's oil presence -- KFYR-TV

• Meridian Energy CEO provides update on status of plans to build the Davis Refinery in ND -- The Crude Life

• Bakken boom continues to shape North Dakota, foreshadows future development challenges -- The Journal

• It's all about diversification at Rainbow Energy Center; pipeline completion to open doors -- Minot Daily News

• North Dakota utility regulators advance power project to serve Fargo data center -- North Dakota Monitor

• North Dakota stands at the center of America's nuclear deterrence amid Iran conflict -- Valley News Live

• Questions over River Run Energy Center, hyperscale data center dominate discussion -- The Beacon

• Greenpeace and Energy Transfer face off in Dutch court over Dakota Access Pipeline ruling -- KFYR-TV

• Port: Governor Armstrong, wisely, wants to prepare North Dakota's budget for a new reality -- InForum

• North Dakota voters face a largely uncompetitive statewide primary ballot in June -- Bismarck Tribune

• North Dakotans see lower state income taxes tied to federal policy changes -- North Dakota Monitor

• District 20 Republicans select Larimore farmer Rustebakke to fill vacant House seat -- North Dakota Monitor

• Economic Policy Institute: North Dakota's cost of living lower than most western states -- Dickinson Press

• Legacy Fund website to launch Nov. 1; seeks to improve investment transparency -- North Dakota Monitor

• One uncontested statewide race will be on North Dakota ballot during primary election -- Dickinson Press

• North Dakota Ethics Commission seeking applicants for two available positions through April -- KX News

• Williston announces significant progress in reducing its long-term debt through SB2323 -- Minot Daily News

• Officials announce start of Phase II of CR 27 reconstruction project in McKenzie County -- KX News

• City of Minot's 2027 budget schedule has been approved; neighbors can follow the process -- KX News

• Minot's two mayoral candidates laid out distinct visions for the city during chamber forum -- Minot Daily News

• State of the Region 8, City of Dickinson Town Hall both slated for April 23 in Dickinson -- Dickinson Press

• Williston City Commission proclaims upcoming Clean City Week and Free Landfill Day -- Williston Herald

• National television airing live segment from Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library -- Dickinson Press

• Medora business owners hiring and expanding as construction signals extra busy summer -- Dickinson Press

• MHA Nation, McKenzie County Sheriff's Office announce public safety partnership -- Minot Daily News

• Bank of America pledges $5M sponsorship to Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library -- Dickinson Press

• Badlands Art Assoc. accepting submissions for Lyle Glass Memorial Western Arts Show -- Dickinson Press

• Rural Health Transformation Program meeting scheduled for Hazen April 23 -- The Beacon

• New NDSU, BSC presidents sign contracts with North Dakota University System -- North Dakota Monitor

• Different paths, shared purpose: ND Petroleum Foundation Teens of the Year named -- Bismarck Tribune

• Minot middle schools test scores in the spotlight at school board's regular meeting -- Minot Daily News

• Minot High School officially adopts new secondary logo amid ongoing trademark dispute -- Minot Daily News

• 'Shared vision' comes to fruition as Alexander school celebrates expansion -- McKenzie County Farmer

• Jeremy Brenner resigns from Williston school board; applications for replacement sought -- Williston Herald

• Students compete in North Dakota National History Day; winners will advance to Washington DC -- KFYR-TV

• Commentary: Free school meals drive energized as ND lawmakers choked -- North Dakota Monitor

• Valley City State presidential search suspended after candidates withdrawals -- North Dakota Monitor

• Despite the cease-fire in the Middle East, prices at the pump are still rising. Here's why. -- Wall Street Journal

• Trump acknowledges gasoline prices might remain high through the November midterm election -- Oil Price

• Oil prices fall as signs of potential U.S.-Iran dialogue to end their war reduce supply concerns -- Reuters

• Armada of crude tankers en route to United States to purchase American energy -- The Center Square

• Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that he expects gasoline prices to peak in the next few weeks -- The Hill

• United States stops nine oil tankers attempting to break Trump's blockade on Iranian ports -- Fox News

• Chevron's stepped-up imports of Venezuelan oil are helping ease fuel prices for US consumers -- CBS News

• More evidence that the Trump Administration is serious about a nuclear energy revival -- RealClearEnergy

• Julie Fedorchak joins Axios reporter for conversation on strengthening US electric grid -- Julie Fedorchak

• Officials in the Gulf region bracing for a timeline closer to six months until US-Iran peace deal -- Oil Price

• Investor-owned utilities plan to pour at least $1.4T into new capital expenditures through 2030 -- E&E News

• Wright, Burgum to urge top US oil and gas companies to increase drilling in bid to lower prices -- E&E News

• Youth climate activists challenge Trump's executive orders in 9th Circuit appeal -- Washington Examiner

• Soaring energy prices are the result of bad government policy, time for a course correction. -- City Journal

Apple News -- Friday, April 17, 2026

Locator: 50566APPLE.

Apple leads! Link here.

Counterpoint's Market Monitor Tracker attributed the decline primarily to a high base effect from last year's government subsidy program and rising component costs. Counterpoint noted that February's Lunar New Year promotions provided a slight boost, but said the "magnitude of these discounts was hampered by a sharp increase in memory costs." Rising costs are already driving up retail prices on both new and used devices, and the pressure is expected to continue through the second quarter.

Apple rose to second place in the market with shipments up 20% year over year, driven by strong iPhone 17 series demand, promotional price cuts, and government subsidies. 

Government subsidies for Apple iPhones?

Counterpoint says Apple is best positioned among manufacturers to navigate the ongoing global memory crunch, supported by its premium product portfolio and supply chain management. 

The firm expects Apple to absorb rising costs internally in the near-to-medium term and expand its market share as a result. The first quarter result extends a strong run for Apple in China; the company reclaimed the top spot in the country in the fourth quarter of 2025 with shipments up 28% year over year, and recorded a 23% sales increase in the first nine weeks of 2026.

Other Apple News:

• iPhones to get new satellite features in light of Amazon buying Globalstar; link here. 

********************The Music Page ******************

You're so far away from me. This takes me back to Friday evenings in Yorkshire twenty years ago. Wow. 

Link here.

Welcome To The Weekend -- April 17, 2026

Locator: 50565B.

Market:

S&P 500 notches first close above 7,100. That's after hitting 7,001, highest intra-day high on record, yesterday. NASDAQ posts longest win streak.

Record-setting day: BRK-B is down again for the day. 

***************************

Back to The Bakken

WTI: $85.10 -- holy mackerel -- It was briefly $105 six days ago. Is that about a 20% drop from the recent high?

Active rigs: 22. 

No new permits, however, this is interesting.

Yesterday, this from the daily activity report -- two older permits with sites modified:

• Operator: Enerplus
• Field: Little Knife (Dunn County)
• Comments:
• Enerplus is modifying the site location: #42674 and #42675, Edward Federal 4B and 5B, 
• to be sited 334 FSL and 2335 / 2368 FEL (previously 335 / 336 FSL and 2585 / 2618 FWL.

In today's daily activity report, Enerplus was permitted to make site modifications -- surface hole relocations. Again, very similar to the above:

• Operator: Enerplus
• Field: Little Knife, Dunn County
• Comments:
• Enerplus is modifying the surface hole location of the following wells:
• #42477, #42672, and #42673, Little Chase Creek 4797 ... 2BHP; Edward Federal 4797 ... 2B; and, Edward Federal 4797 ... 3B, 
• to be sited 334 / 335 FSL and 2437 / 2302 FEL.

Eighteen permits renewed:

• CLR (10):
• seven Plano permits: SENW, NENW section 28-154-101; Baker oil field, Williams County;
• three Frisco permits: SWSE 31-152-102, Glass Bluff oil field; McKenzie County;
• Devon Energy Williston (8): 
• five Explorer permits and three Meriwether permits, NWSE 21-14-92; Wolf Bay, Dunn County;

Chart Of The Day -- April 17, 2026

Locator: 50564AAPL.

Chicken Or The Egg -- Or Both Simultaneously? April 7, 2026

Locator: 50563INTERNET.

Wow, just typing that word -- "internet" -- makes me feel so old. How long have we had ChatGPT easily available and Google Gemini now our mobile apps and desktops?

Those not on the graphic: Iran, Cuba, North Korea.