Oil Companies Help Out | Video

Alex Hagan | 6/29/2012

Western North Dakota has become home to many different oil companies as well as all of the people they employ, and that has created many challenges for communities. Communities impacted by energy development are in desperate need of help when it comes to infrastructure, education and housing.

"Traffic goes with growth and the state is a couple years behind with the infrastructure, with the roads and bridges, but that will come and we will get there," said Senator George Nodland (R-District 36).

Some of the oil companies understand those issues and are looking to help out.

"Whether we`re being blamed or not it`s our job to go out and take care of what we can and hopefully others will follow as well," said Alexis Brinkman with the North Dakota Petroleum Council.

That`s why some oil companies have started helping fund infrastructure projects and hosting trash clean-ups.

"Our companies, their employees, they`re not just oil industry employees, they`re living in Williston, they`re living in watford city and they want to live in a good community and have a wonderful quality of life," Brinkman said.

Oil companies are not only helping out with infrastructure needs and picking up trash, they are also trying to help provide more affordable housing. So people don`t have to live in trailers and campers anymore.

"We need to provide housing for every class of people and you know when you have all these types of people that are making the money they`re making today they`re still all of the people in the service industry," Nodland said.

State leaders hope the energy industry continues to help out with the ongoing problems.

"The oil industry, we just need to make them aware on important thing to help us with our infrastructure," Nodland said.

Even though the energy industry might be the cause of infrastructure and housing problems, some companies are trying to help out struggling communities.

Marathon Oil in Dickinson donated $1.2 million to the Affordable Housing Fund.

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