Empire Petroleum leader resigns

  Tulsa’s Empire Petroleum Corporation is under new leadership after last week’s resignation by Thomas W. Pritchard as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company stated that Pritchard departed “to pursue other opportunities” and his resignation was effective March 16, 2023. Pritchard had been CEO and …

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Oklahoma House passes car dealership reform bill

  A bill promoted by automobile dealers who say overhaul and reform of the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission is long overdue was passed unanimously this week in the Oklahoma House. Rep. Mike Dobrinski, a Republican from Okeene was the House Author and said it will not only modernize Oklahoma’s automobile franchise laws but will also …

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Lawsuit withdrawn against Summit Utilities while Arkansas agency begins investigation

  A lawsuit alleging price gouging on the part of Summit Utilities in Arkansas was dismissed this week at the request of the law firm that filed the suit on behalf of two Summit customers. Attorney Scott Poynter asked for the dismissal and explained the complaints will be moved to the Arkansas Public Service Commission …

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Slight decline recorded in crude oil held in storage at Cushing Hub

  U.S. crude oil supplies held their own in the past week while the amount in storage at Oklahoma’s Cushing Hub declined slightly. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported the national total was 481.2 million barrels of crude oil in storage, an increase of 1.1 million barrels from the previous reporting period on March 10. …

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Judge’s ruling put WOTUS on hold in Texas and Idaho

  When Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a lawsuit against the EPA in February and challenged the controversial spread of WOTUS, he called it a “final rule riddled with problems.” This week, a federal judge agreed with him, but in a separate challenge of WOTUS by the States of Texas and Idaho. It might …

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Fast energy reads

** In the latest blow to Native Americans who oppose the controversial Resolution Copper mine project in Arizona, the U.S. Forest Service plans to set in motion a land swap between the U.S. government and Rio Tinto. ** As U.S. refiners rejigger operations to reflect declining domestic motor fuels demand in the next decade, they will …

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Nuclear regulators delay New Mexico storage decision

  Just days after New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill into law presumably stopping the storage of high-level radioactive waste in her state, U.S. regulators announced a delay in their decision whether to proceed such a national project. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a new schedule this week citing unforeseen staffing constraints …

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House Committee led by Rep. Lucas to study improved weather forecasting

  Weather forecasting is obviously critical for people who live in Oklahoma where tornadoes are common occurrences and that’s why Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas, in his capacity as chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, plans a hearing to examine improvements in weather forecasting. He and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Max Miller plan the …

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New natural gas wells completed in Southeast Oklahoma

  Southeast Oklahoma provided a handful of new natural gas wells in recent months according to the latest completion reports on file with the Corporation Commission. One of the largest had production of 13,074 Mcf of natural gas along with 3 barrels of oil a day in Pittsburg County and was drilled by Calyx Energy …

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Rep. Cole to Biden—“Come on man!” back at you

  In criticizing President Biden and his fiscal year 20224 budget, Oklahoma Republican Congressman Tom Cole condemned the President’s proposed increased spending on Green New Deal policies that he says have already nearly destroyed North American energy independence. “—this reckless tax-and-spend budget certainly shows his priorities are not in line with the American people,” claimed …

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