Medora to facilitate Oil and Gas Producing Counties event

Talk about it

Several keynote speakers will be addressing oil at a North Dakota Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties annual meeting in Medora on Oct. 6. The meeting will highlight energy and its effects on the state, NDAOGPC Executive Director Vicky Steiner said.

“They are going to be getting an idea of what is going to be happening with energy in the future not only for North Dakota but for the United States and how North Dakota fits in that role.”

The meeting will feature American Petroleum Institute Senior Economist Rayola Dougher. Her presentation will focus on, “the overall national picture of the economy and how oil and gas plays into that future of the world economy,” Steiner said.

ND Industrial Commission Director Lynn Helms will give a projection of oil production by county. Steiner said many counties come to hear him speak so they can plan.

“He goes county by county on what the oil production has been and an estimate of how much oil production the county will see the next year,” Steiner said. “I really think that helps with the county, city and school budgeting.”

Other items include potash potential, small city planning grant updates and the Bakken Boom and hdealing with a growing economy.

Seventeen counties make up the association. These counties are directly impacted by energy resources, such as oil, gas and coal. Stark County Commission Chairman Ken Zander said it is important for officials to attend the meeting so they know what to expect.

“We can do a little better planning knowing what kind of impacts we are dealing with,” he said. “Getting the information and keeping the lines of communications open is important.”

Though some counties are not affected by the oil boom like others, it is important to attend the meetings so these counties know how to deal with the impact in the future, Bowman County Commission Vice Chairman Pine Abrahamson said.

“I know there is a lot of growing up north,” Abrahamson said. “If it’s moving this way, we need to know how to better prepare ourselves for it.”

Last year the meeting was in Dickinson. The center of discussion was the South Heart Coal Mine. About 100 people attended the meeting, Steiner said.

Steiner said there are 100 spots open for this meeting. She added it is a way for associate members and the general public to meet the board members and learn about natural resources.

“It’s a good chance for the communities to share information and to learn from each other,” Steiner said. “It’s a great opportunity to continue their relationships.”

Register at www.ndenergy.org. Cost is $55 for members and $85 for non-members. After Thursday cost is $100.

Tags: vickie steiner, news, oil, medora, ndaogpc