We reported last week on endorsements for Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy in her runoff race for the GOP nomination of Lt. Gov. In all fairness, her opponent, Matt Pinnell announced an endorsement this week from former primary challenger State Senator Eddie Fields. Instead of endorsing Murphy, Sen. Fields showed his support for Pinnell, the former …
July 16, 2018 archive
Texas to begin campaign to conserve water
If you’ve ever driven in Texas and seen those “Don’t mess with Texas” anti-littering campaign signs, there could soon be one urging people to protect their water. As the Austin Statesman recently reported, the state is apparently turning to Austin advertising legend Roy Spence. One of the founders of GSD and M advertising agency, he’s …
New Mexico increases hold as nation’s number three oil producer
Thanks to massive oil production in the Permian Basin, New Mexico has strengthened its hold as the number three oil-producing state in March, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The state’s production totaled 19,371,000 barrels of oil. Oklahoma’s production was 16,800,000 barrels of oil during the same time and could not overcome the record …
Keystone XL developer prepares for construction in Montana and South Dakota
Keystone XL is a step closer to reality in the northern part of the U.S. TransCanada Corp., developer of the controversial oil pipeline has notified one Native American tribal chairman the firm will start moving materials and getting ready for the start of construction at sites in Montana and South Dakota. The letter was sent …
Natural gas industry fights for survival in competitive energy world
Survival. It’s what the natural gas industry is intent on doing as wind and solar energy expand not just in Oklahoma and the rest of the U.S. but across the world. The green energy growth has forced the natural gas industry to take cost-cutting steps. Energy consultants Wood Mackenzie say gas and oil producers have …
Energy and Environment hearings this week in Washington
Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and others who sit on two energy committees will be holding hearings this week in Washington, D.C. Inhofe sits on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and will be part of a Tuesday hearing on the Endangered Species Act Amendments of 2018. The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy …
Summer-time work for House Energy and Commerce Committee
The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce has approved a number of energy-related bills. Oklahoma Congressman Markwayne Mullin and others on the committee gave voice-vote approval to a bill increasing fines for illegal pirate radio operations. Under the Preventing Illegal radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act, fines will be increased from $10,000 to $100,000 a …
Drilling rig activity sees more growth in Oklahoma
The latest round of permits to drill issued by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission shows no letup in drilling activity in the state’s STACK and SCOOP plays. As published by OK Energy Today, the reports included 32 more permits to drill in the state. The largest number was the seven permits issued for drilling in Kingfisher …
Bridenstine praises President’s nomination of Deputy NASA Administrator
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is supporting the man nominated by President Trump to be the space agency’s deputy administrator. James Morhard was nominated by the White House and like Bridenstine, was an outside choice for the position. “This administration is committed to American leadership in space, and I look forward to working with Mr. Morhard upon his …
Volunteers vs. vandals at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Volunteers spent the weekend removing graffiti from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton. Vandals recently spray-painted anti-religion signs on the massive boulders including “6-6-6” and upside down crosses. High-press hoses were used to remove the paint from the rocks. Several workers devoted their time to remove what the vandals painted.