Extreme blizzard conditions wreaked havoc on North Dakota energy infrastructure last weekend, taking offline as much as 60% of the state’s crude oil production and more than 80% of natural gas output, and leaving utility poles and power lines strewn
"The damage we have assessed so far is unprecedented. It's the worst damage Montana-Dakota Utilities has had on its system," spokesman Mark Hanson said. "We have hundreds of cross arms broken and miles of poles down."<br/><br/>
Some rural areas likely won't have their power restored for days due to the "unprecedented" level of damage to electrical infrastructure and the difficulty of accessing the downed poles and lines, said Montana-Dakota Utilities spokesman Mark Hanson.