February 17, 2020 archive

Congressman blasts Bloomberg over how easy it is to farm

Republican Congressman Markwayne Mullin suggests Democratic Presidential hopeful Mike Bloomberg hasn’t the slightest idea of what it means to be a farmer.   Bloomberg drew ire on social media on Sunday night after resurfaced footage of the billionaire saying farming required less “gray matter” than modern work went viral, according to Newsweek. The ex-New York …

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Oil fraud lawsuit goes to trial in OKC federal court

A contentious lawsuit in which a Tulsa couple and an energy company they formed in 2015 stand accused of fraud and securities fraud in how they obtained $1 million to buy oil and gas leases goes to trial Tuesday in Oklahoma City federal court. U.S. District Court Judge Patrick R. Wyrick denied the motion for …

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Colorful Texas oilman Clayton Williams dead at 88

Clayton Williams, a Midland oilman, banker and entrepreneur who spent millions of his own money on a wild 1990 race for governor, has died. He was 88 and reportedly died of complications of pneumonia. Williams, a Republican, lost a nationally watched race for governor to Democrat Ann Richards in 1990, after besting three well-known Republicans …

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Oh oh—snow’s back in the forecast for some Oklahomans!

Just as you enjoyed the warmer weather of the past few days, reality of winter returns. Snow returns. A cold front is hitting the state again and state Climatologist Gary McManus says it will “bring us back down below normal for awhile.” So it means outdoor workers, those in the oilfields, wind turbine maintenance, power …

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Energy leader Groendyke stepping down after 44 years on Wildlife Commission

After 44 years as a member of the Oklahoma Wildlife Commission, energy leader John D. Groendyke is stepping down. He will be replaced by Northwestern Oklahoma insurance executive D. Chad Dillingham of Enid. Groendyke, president of Enid-based Groendyke Transport, the 5th largest bulk tank truck company serving the US and Canada served at the pleasure …

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Tulsa prepares to observe Earth Day

Plans are underway in Tulsa for the upcoming 50th anniversary Earth Day Celebration. It will be a combination of Earth Day celebration and jazz festival. The April 18, 2020 event will feature first-ever Native U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo who will explore the theme of Environmental Justice with her jazz band at the celebration. The …

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Energy news in brief

** NextDecade Corporation and Enbridge Inc.  announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Enbridge will acquire Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC from NextDecade for a cash purchase price not to exceed $25 million, with $15 million paid at closing and the balance paid upon NextDecade’s reaching a positive final investment decision  on its …

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Drone bills to be considered by Senate committee

Two drone-related bills will be considered Tuesday during a meeting of the Oklahoma Senate Transportation Committee. Both SB 1688 and SB 1896 were filed by Sen. Michael Bergstrom, a Republican legislator from Adair. SB 1688 would create the Oklahoma Advanced Mobility Pilot program to be administered by the State Transportation Department. Under the measure, an …

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Coal demand is declining in U.S.

Nearly one in five of the tons of coal delivered to U.S. power generators in the first three quarters of 2019 went to power plants planning to close by 2025 or earlier. And the head of a Tulsa-based coal company has a solution. With no coal-fired power plants on the drawing board at home and …

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North Dakota oil production slipped in December

  North Dakota regulators say oil production in December was down about 3% from November. The Department of Mineral Resources says the state produced an average of 1.47 million barrels of oil daily in December. That’s down from 1.51 million barrels from the prior month. North Dakota also produced about 94.8 billion cubic feet of …

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