April 2021 archive

US oil and gas rig numbers continue to grow

      The US rig count rose by four in the last week to 492 as of March 31, according to Enverus Rig Analytics. The count is up 7% in the last month but still down 28% YOY. A region-by-region count showed a decline of four rigs in the Anadarko Basin which includes Oklahoma. …

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Average gasoline tax in US hits 30 cents

  An update of data by the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows the average of taxes and fees on gasoline across the U.S. is 30 cents a gallon. That means on average, a motorist filling up a vehicle at the gas pump is paying 30 cents of every dollar for a tax or a state …

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Biden’s infrastructure plan bashed by Inhofe and Cole

    The $2.2 trillion infrastructure plan unveiled Wednesday by President Biden was nothing like what he discussed in a meeting with Republican Senators including Oklahoma’s Jim Inhofe. He and Rep. Tom Cole are both critical of the measure with Cole saying it’s more like a Green New Deal. “The Biden-Harris infrastructure proposal is a …

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Attorneys General want court order blocking Biden

  The lawsuit challenging President Biden’s executive order pausing new oil and gas leasing on public lands, one that Oklahoma is a part of, asked a Louisiana district court this week to issue a preliminary injunction against the order. “Because this so-called ‘pause’ alters potential lessees’ right to participate in sales—and Plaintiff States’ entitlement to proceeds …

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Corporation Commissioners urge legislators to vote down two bills

  With a unanimous vote this week, Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners launched a campaign to urge state legislators to vote down two bills the commissioners say would be harmful to the agency, the state’s infrastructure and the motoring public. The vote was 3-0 and not 2-1 by commissioners as OK Energy Today originally reported, a vote …

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Energy news in brief

** Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler said on Wednesday it will accelerate its shift to electric cars as it builds on a strong start to 2021 despite a global semiconductor chip shortage, but gave no details of how fast its car line-up will go electric reported Reuters. ** MarketWatch reports Biden’s plan for 500,000 EV charging stations across …

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Bankruptcy hits another Texas power retailer after February winter storm

    Houston’s Entrust Energy Inc. is the latest power retailer to file for bankruptcy after February’s winter storm in Texas sent electricity prices soaring. The company listed assets of $100 million to $500 million and liabilities of $50 million to $100 million, according to a Chapter 11 petition filed in the Southern District of …

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Long-distance Oklahoma driving would challenge most EVs

  So what is the actual distance most electric vehicles can travel before they run out of power? We hear so much about distance capability of EVs, a serious question considering the distances one has to drive in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Consider the drive from Alva for someone to visit a specialist in Oklahoma …

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Democratic officials pick white woman over Latinas, Native American for Haaland’s old seat

  Native Americans hoping to replace Interior Secretary Deb Haaland with another Native American in the House seat she once held were disappointed this week. Instead, New Mexico Democrats nominated a white state lawmaker over Latina and Native American candidates in New Mexico. Axios reported the selection of state Rep. Melanie Stansbury to replace Haaland, …

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