Technology continues its impact

Every month seems like a full circle back to the starting line. Just as one issue of Prairie Business moves to production, the reporting for the following issue has already begun.

It seems not long ago that there were stories about construction, energy, and technology, but here we are again.

Yet no matter how many times a theme might be revisited, there is always something new to learn. And at the rapid pace at which some things change, a year around the sun -- or the shorter span of time of only a few months -- might seem like too long a time before revisiting a topic’s changes and trends.

In this issue are highlighted a number of construction projects, an energy topic, and a story about the ways technology, specifically broadband and fiber networks, has modified the office of today and tomorrow.

As Sam Easter reports, one company is “looking ahead to a world that’s increasingly untethered from the traditional office … making tech-sector hires hundreds of miles away from its physical footprint. Pre-pandemic, those jobs would likely be in North Dakota. But now they’re in Washington state, Salt Lake City and the east coast.”

While the trends may be “sweeping through the office” during the pandemic, they also are likely to be here “for the long-haul.”

Technology also continues to enhance the energy industry in all of its many forms, but this month we take a peek at carbon capture and enhanced oil production.

Those things already are happening, of course, but more is in store.

As Joan Dietz, spokeswoman for Basic Electric Power Cooperative, said, as one example: “Dakota Gasification Company’s Great Plains Synfuels Plant has captured more than 41 million metric tons of carbon dioxide since 2000 … a project we are very proud of.”

But what lies ahead? The industry is on the cusp of greater things.

No matter what industry, one thing is for sure: Technology isn’t going anywhere.

Prairie Business is here for the long haul, too, and as the magazine has done for a number of years, it has once again opened the nomination period for its 40 Under 40 list. A link to the rules and nomination form can be found at prairiebusinessmagazine.com. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, Oct. 15.

As always, thanks for reading!

Andrew Weeks

I look forward to hearing from you at aweeks@prairiebusinessmagazine.com or 701-780-1276.

PUBLISHER

KORRIE WENZEL

AD DIRECTOR STACI LORD

EDITOR

ANDREW WEEKS

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BETH BOHLMAN

LAYOUT DESIGN

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NICHOLE ERTMAN 800.477.6572 ext. 1162 nertman@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

Prairie Business magazine is published monthly by the Grand Forks Herald and Forum Communications Company with offices at 375 2nd Avenue North, Grand Forks, ND 58203. Subscriptions are available free of charge. Back issue quantities are limited and subject to availability ($2/copy prepaid). The opinions of writers featured in Prairie Business are their own. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork are encouraged but will not be returned without a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

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