BISMARCK, N.D. -- North Dakota energy officials today are poised to make some serious changes to how the state regulates its growing network of oil, wastewater and methane gas pipelines. The North Dakota Industrial Commission is deciding whether to finalize new regulations aimed at improving how the state's pipelines are built and operated.

If the new rules are approved, said Evan Whiteford, North Dakota organizer for the Laborers' International Union, the state could move from back of the pack to become a leader when it comes to protecting communities and the environment from the risks associated with oil and gas development.

"There's a lot of poor worker practices that could be fixed," he said. "With these regulations, it's going to force contractors to do things the right way instead of cutting corners. One of the biggest issues you see out here is land reclamation. The problems that you don't see are buried under the ground, and that's what's got a lot of concern going out there right now."

Some in the oil and gas industry do not like the new regulations, saying they are unnecessary and too costly. But environmental protection groups have said the state has few safeguards to prevent pipeline incidents both for landowners and workers.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, North Dakota's oil and gas industry has the nation's highest rate of worker deaths. In addition to keeping workers safe, Whiteford said, preventing spills and other incidents also could save the state money on clean-up costs. He also argued that the new rules could help keep farmers from losing money as well.

"There is definitely a risk of putting people in danger," he said, "not so much physically, but more or less their livelihoods with their farming and their ranching. You contaminate the soil, you contaminate the water, that's people's livelihoods up here."

If approved, the new rules could go into effect as early as October. As they're written now, the new regulations could address problems including adding more environmental controls to protect wetlands, and adding best practices such as requiring that pipelines be installed on blocks or cones to prevent corrosion.

The pipeline rules are online at dmr.nd.gov.


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Appalachian communities in Kentucky are poised to become manufacturing hubs for the wind energy industry, experts say.

The region's workforce, accessible transportation routes, and stash of coal ash deposits -- which contain rare earth metals needed for turbine production -- all point to a role for Appalachia in the industry's supply chain.

Larry Holloway, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Kentucky, said wind energy is a quickly growing industry in America. He pointed out more than 11% of all power produced in the U.S. comes from wind turbines and the number grows by 2% each year.

"Wind is pretty inexpensive," Holloway explained. "It depends in part on where in the country you are, how much wind you have and so forth, but it is one of the lowest cost energy sources. And in 2024, several months in a row, wind outproduced coal nationally."

According to federal data, the American wind energy industry currently supports more than 120,000 jobs and the number of wind turbine technicians is expected to grow by 60% over the next decade.

Critics have argued wind power comes with expensive production and maintenance costs, and long-term environmental impacts.

Mike Shields, senior economist for ReImagine Appalachia, said to help with the transition to wind-based power, decommissioned coal power plants could be repurposed as manufacturing facilities for parts used in wind turbines.

"We know that wind turbines are major infrastructure and there are a lot of working parts in those," Shields emphasized. "How our communities can participate in that supply chain is really the key thing that we want to take a look at."

While it remains unclear how tariffs will affect the nation's ability to develop more wind turbine parts, Holloway stressed U.S. based manufacturing is strong.

"There are a number of final assembly lines and parts that are already made in the U.S.," Holloway underscored. "We may, in fact, see even more demand in that area coming in the future as well."

According to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, 33% of Americans think a wind turbine farm would positively affect their local economy, while 9% said wind turbines would hurt it. Another 27% said installing a wind turbine farm would make no difference.

Minnesota is considered a national leader for community solar opportunities but a successful state program expanding solar access would end in the next few years if a bill is signed into law.

Minnesota launched its Community Solar Garden program in 2013, allowing people to link up to a shared array of Xcel Energy solar panels and receive credits on their energy bills.

Sen. Nick Frentz, DFL-North Mankato, supports a bill to end the initiative in 2028. He said he still wants the state to use more renewable energy but feels continuing the program does not make economic sense.

"Given Minnesota's commitment to 100% clean energy by 2040, we want clean energy technologies to compete on price and reliability," Frentz explained.

Frentz pointed out the Community Solar program still relies on above-market rates, despite the decreasing cost of solar power. He added the program is partially paid for by utility customers who do not subscribe to it. Two years ago, the state modified the program to address underlying issues and opponents of the bill want more time for the changes to work. They worry about reducing solar access for renters and lower-income households.

Patty O'Keefe, Midwest regional director for the advocacy group Vote Solar, cited state data at a recent hearing showing the Community Solar Program provides nearly $3 billion in net benefits to the whole state. She added Minnesotans already pay for energy they may not use.

"The reality is that utilities routinely socialize the costs of power plants, transmission lines and grid upgrades, whether or not every customer benefits," O'Keefe emphasized. "Yet, when it comes to community solar, the same cost sharing principles are framed as a problem."

O'Keefe noted Minnesotans who use community solar panels see their monthly energy bills drop by 3% to 8% on average. Bill supporters argued the state could better serve these households by steering them to options at competitive market prices. The bill has bipartisan support but faces stronger opposition among Democrats.


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A bill would effectively delay implementation of clean car and truck programs in Maryland, but electric-vehicle manufacturers and health groups are urging lawmakers to reject the measure.

House Bill 1556 would put programs on hold that would require 43% of 2027 model year vehicles sold to be electric.

That percentage would gradually increase to 100% by 2035, and the clean-truck program would ultimately reach 75%.

The legislation would lift penalties for missed goals until 2029, but keep sales percentages the same.

Ryan Gallentine, managing director of Advanced Energy United, said the legislation is a test for Maryland lawmakers as President Donald Trump seeks to roll back vehicle standards.

"This bill hands a free talking point to the Trump administration," said Gallentine, "who will point to leaders in blue state Maryland, who pass this bill as backtracking on EVs - and is more evidence that blue-state leadership is feckless on this."

The sponsor of the bill has previously said a lack of charging infrastructure and the end of federal EV tax credits are reasons to put the programs on pause.

Clean-vehicle standards similar to the Maryland bill have been passed in more than a dozen other states.

Trisha Dello Iocano, head of policy with CALSTART -- a clean-transportation technology group -- said the legislation would negatively impact the health of Marylanders.

"They protect Marylanders from toxic airborne chemicals," said Iocano, "vehicle exhausts that are known to cause cancer, harm lung health and impact the cognitive development of young children. "

Clean-vehicle industry leaders have voiced concern that the legislation would bring uncertainty into the electric-vehicle market.




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