December 2018 archive

Governor seeks help from SBA for eastern Oklahoma storms

The late-November storms that affected utility companies and damaged more than 90 homes and businesses in eastern Oklahoma prompted Gov. Mary Fallin and the Cherokee Nation to request a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The storms packed tornadoes, severe storms and straight-line winds on Nov. 30. Damage assessments found more than 90 …

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PSO named a Business Customer Champion

    Public Service Company of Oklahoma is a Business Customer Champion. The Tulsa-based company that has more than 550,000 customers in the state was named a 2018 Business Customer Champion in a Cogent Reports study by Market Strategies International.  The award honors utilities that show exceptional performance on Brand Trust, Service Satisfaction and Product …

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Gasoline prices keep falling in Oklahoma

Less than one week before Christmas and Oklahoma drivers are getting an early present at the gas pumps where prices for the state average $2.04 a gallon. That’s two cents cheaper than a week ago and compares to the $2.30 drivers paid a month ago and to the $2.19 they paid one year earlier. AAA …

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Arkansas AG stalls Entergy’s shutdown of two coal-fired power plants

Regulators in Arkansas say they’re unsure of an agreement between environmental groups and Entergy Arkansas to close two coal-fired power plants. So they’ve started a review of the plan between New Orleans-based Entergy and the Sierra Club and the Washington, D.C.-based National Parks Conservation Association. The Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said the plan “has …

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ConocoPhillips pledges $2 million to push for carbon tax

ConocoPhillips, a company with major ties to Oklahoma, has taken a bold step in helping fund a multi-million dollar political advocacy campaign over carbon emissions. It is joining forces with ExxonMobil in financing the campaign to lobby Congress for a tax on carbon. ConocoPhillips is committing $2 million over a two-year period to the group …

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Legislative leaders who’ll handle Oklahoma energy bills

Leadership in the Oklahoma House has been revealed….those who will be in charge of handling any and all bills in the coming legislative session that affect energy issues in the state. Whether it’s measures impacting the wind industry or oil and gas or even transportation, Speaker Charles McCall, the Republican from Atoka has named his …

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Looming government shutdown would hit the EPA and Interior Departments

If Democrats and Republicans in Congress don’t reach a deal to avoid a threatened shutdown of the federal government, it could mean thousands of workers at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Interior Department will get an early Christmas break. The EPA actually made plans in September for such a possibility, posting on its website …

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Letter from some in Congress urges President to make Keystone XL become a reality

Oklahoma U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas and Senators Jim Inhofe and James Lankford were among 44 members of Congress who are urging the White House to take action to approve construction of the stalled Keystone XL pipeline. In a letter sent to President Trump, Lucas, Inhofe and the others urged him to “take any appropriate action …

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Inhofe sees nothing new from Democrats when it comes to climate change demands

Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe says nothing is new from Democrats as far as climate change demands are concerned as Democrats prepare to take over the House. He’s expected to play a key role in any infrastructure push in the coming year and downplayed demands made by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for climate change policies …

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Chesapeake wraps up nearly $8 million in buyback of shares

    Chesapeake Energy says its buyback program of Senior notes resulted in nearly $8 million in notes repurchased by the Oklahoma City energy company. The company said holders of $7,809,000 in 2.25% convertible Senior Notes due 2038 excised their right to surrender the notes for repurchase.  Another $923,000 in notes remains outstanding. The offer …

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