Bismarck, ND-based MDU Resources Group Inc. on Thursday reported record 2020 earnings across all of its businesses, including natural gas and power utilities in eight states.

CEO David Goodin and senior executives said they expect continued growth in 2021 despite the Covid-19 pandemic as construction materials and services businesses accounted for nearly two-thirds of the nearly $400 million in earnings, a 16% hike from 2019, and a backlog of more than $600 million in construction-related contracts.

Among the four, mostly natural gas, multi-state utilities, the gas operators are in discussions with various parties to expand MDU’s involvement in renewable natural gas (RNG) and launch some research and development projects on use of hydrogen in conjunction with gas distribution...