April 2018 archive

Back to back Yearly Losses Reported by Edmond Firm

Edmond-based Energy and Environmental Services reported this week back-to-back yearly losses as the 2017 earnings turned into a loss of $2.39 million. It came on top of the $2.1 million loss recorded in 2016. The 2017 loss amounted to 5 cents a share. With 22 employees, the oil-field chemicals and coatings company stated its sales …

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AG Hunter and Others Fight California Climate Lawsuits Against Energy Companies

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter is one of 15 attorneys general opposing climate lawsuits filed by California cities against large energy companies such as Exxon Mobil. They filed a court brief last week opposing the suits, calling the actions by the California municipalities “overreach” in using local nuisance ordinances to find court solutions to global …

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Vistra Energy Wraps up Dynegy Merger with 300 Layoffs

More than 300 workers lost their jobs this week in Houston following Vistra Energy Corp.’s acquisition of Dynegy Inc. Vistra informed the Texas Workforce Commission it was laying off 308 workers effective June 11. “These employees were asked by Vistra Energy if they would be interested in relocating to North Texas; many declined,” a Vistra …

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Bridenstine’s Resignation Leaves Void on US House Energy Issues

The resignation of Jim Bridenstine as the 1st District U.S. Representative in Oklahoma to head NASA leaves a choice for Gov. Mary Fallin as well as empty membership on energy related house committees. Gov. Fallin cannot appoint someone to succeed Bridenstine in the U.S. House.  She can only call for special elections to fill the …

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New Look at Valero’s Gas Pumps

Those Valero gas pumps in Oklahoma and around the rest of the country are getting a new look. The San Antonio, Texas-based company is updating them with a new design named Vanguard. The company’s switching to the new design at all convenience stores where its gasoline is sold. The switch involves 7,400 stations in the …

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Bridenstine Officially Heads NASA—Sworn In Monday

Jim Bridenstine is no longer an Oklahoma Congressman. He has been sworn in as the new Administrator at NASA. Vice President Mike Pence swore him in during ceremonies on Monday and immediately Bridenstine received a phone call from three U.S. astronauts on board the International Space Station who offered him “hearty congratulations.” Bridenstine is officially …

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Hemp Bill Signed into Law in Oklahoma

Governor Mary Fallin on Monday signed a bill that creates a pilot program, overseen by state agriculture officials and Oklahoma’s higher education institutions, allowing permits to grow industrial hemp. It’s a product that can be used in producing oils and biodegradable plastics. House Bill (HB) 2913 creates the Oklahoma Industrial Hemp Agricultural Pilot Program. The …

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Wells Fargo Finances More Wind Projects

After California-based Wells Fargo announced a new $200 billion renewable energy financial commitment last week, the company wrapped up $70 million in tax-equity funding for wind projects in Nebraska, Indiana and California. The funding is for Pacific Plains wind farms including a 90 megawatt Cottonwood wind operation in Webster County, Nebraska. Wells Fargo has teamed …

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Quarterly Cash Distribution Announced by Williams Partners

Tulsa’s Williams Partners L.P. announced this week a regular quarterly cash distribution of $0.614 per unit for its common unitholders. The company said the new amount is a 2.33 percent increase from the previous quarterly distribution of $0.60 per unit paid in February. The distribution will be payable May 11 to common unitholders of record …

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Blueknight Energy Declares Cash Distribution

A 14-cent-a-share cash distribution was announced this week by Oklahoma City-based Blueknight Energy Partners, L.P. The amount was unchanged from the partnership’s fourth quarter 2017 distribution.  The distributions are payable May 15, 2018 on all outstanding common and preferred units to unitholders of record as of the close of business on May 4, 2018. The …

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