N.D. Governor Armstrong Reflects on Year One
Steve Hallstrom
Special to The Farmer
BISMARCK, ND - Exactly one year after being sworn in as North Dakota’s 34th Governor, Kelly Armstrong, sat down with The McKenzie County Farmer for a wide-ranging discussion on the accomplishments of his first year and the economic headwinds facing the state.
While the Governor touted achievements in infrastructure and tax relief, he also issued a clear warning regarding the softening price of crude oil - a topic of great importance here in McKenzie County.
Reflecting on year one, Armstrong identified three primary achievements that he believes will reshape the state’s trajectory - the advancement of the Bakken West-to-East natural gas pipeline, the implementation of a statewide cell phone ban in K-12 schools, and a transformative property tax relief program.
West to East Pipeline
For residents in the heart of the Bakken, the West-to-East pipeline represents more than just a construction project - it is what Armstrong says is a critical release valve for the region’s energy production. Currently, McKenzie County remains the powerhouse of the state, accounting for approximately 32 percent of North Dakota’s total oil production. In October 2025, the county produced over 10 million barrels of oil and 45 million MCF of natural gas.
However, the lack of infrastructure to move “associated gas” - the natural gas produced alongside oil - often threatens to stall drilling activity due to strict flaring limits.
Armstrong emphasized that the WBI Energy project is moving toward permitting with newfound momentum.
“Getting that natural gas out of Western North Dakota and creating a infrastructure across the whole state to do that is going to allow for a tremendous amount of economic development and access to affordable and reliable power from one end of the state to the other. And I think that that’s a game changer for value added ag, it’s a game changer for any economic development.”
The Current Oil Price Deficit
Despite the optimism over the pipeline, the Governor did not sugarcoat the reality of the current oil markets. With West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices dipping below $56 per barrel this week, the state’s budget is feeling the squeeze. North Dakota’s 2025-2027 revenue forecast was built on an assumed average of $59 per barrel.
The impact is already visible on the ground. Recent state data shows that the number of active fracking crews has struggled to keep pace with the levels required to maintain record production. Armstrong noted that the state was already $20 million under its revenue forecast for November.
“I think the next budget cycle, anybody thinking we’re going to have a billion and a half a surplus when we walk into the legislative session isn’t paying attention to the price of oil in the economy right now.”
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