Bank survey shows increase in manufacturing in KC district

  The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City released the June Manufacturing Survey this week. According to Chad Wilkerson, vice president and economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, the survey revealed that Tenth District manufacturing activity grew slightly after sharply decreasing for three straight months. Activity still remained well below year-ago levels, …

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Hamm picks up another $57 million in shares of his own company

  Continental Resources founder Harold Hamm added more than $57 million in shares in his own company this week. A filing made with the Securities Exchange Commission showed Hamm, who is now the company’s Executive Chairman, made the acquisitions on June 22, 23 and 24 of this year. He paid an average price of $16.62 …

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Disconnect program to resume at OGE

  For some of those utility customers who were allowed suspensions of their bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they now find themselves hit with a buildup of bills as utilities resume disconnects. In some cases, customers find they have to pay 2 to 3 months of unpaid bills or face total cutoff. Those customers …

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Trump administration wind and solar approvals lag Obama record

  A new study shows the Trump Administration’s Interior Department gave approval to nearly half as many wind and solar energy projects on federal lands as the Obama administration did at the same point in its first term.   Reuters reported the numbers reflect the administration’s soft-pedaling of renewable energy development while favoring expansion of …

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Energy news in brief

** Murphy Oil Corporation will host a conference call and webcast beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Thursday, August 6, 2020 to discuss second quarter 2020 earnings. The company plans to release its financial and operating results before the market opens that morning. ** -Xcel Energy has elected a new board member, effective immediately. Charles …

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North Dakota state revenues plunge in pandemic

  Like a lot of other oil and gas producing states, North Dakota is struggling with plunging revenues from gross production taxes and how they have affected overall state revenues. North Dakota’s State Office of Management and Budget Director Joe Morrissette reported this week the tax revenues from oil production in the nation’s 2nd highest …

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Kansas City poised to adopt the most efficient building code in the country

  After years of lagging other cities on energy efficiency, Kansas City, Missouri officials have taken a step that could result in the city adopting the toughest building code in the country. Since 2012, the city has operated with a building code that was weakened to meet the desires of the home building industry. The …

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Slight interest in drilling for new wells in Oklahoma

  There is still some drilling interest in Oklahoma as shown by the few drilling permits issued by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. With only 9 active oil and gas rigs in the state, according to the last Baker Hughes update, any new drilling might be considered significant in light of the impact of the COVID-19 …

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AAA Forecasts Americans will take 700 Million Trips this Summer

  This summer, AAA forecasts Americans will take 700 million trips based on economic indicators and state re-openings. That number is down nearly 15% compared to last July through September and is the first decline in summer travel since 2009. AAA booking trends show Americans are making travel plans, though cautiously and more spur of the moment. “Americans will …

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IOGCC sets agenda for upcoming annual meeting

  The 2020 IOGCC Annual meeting will be held next week in Oklahoma City. The agenda was released this week for the start of the meeting on Monday, June 29 followed by a June 30 meeting of the group’s Energy Resources, Research and Technology Committee. For those  interested in attending any of the videoconference sessions …

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