Oklahoma State Legislators Adjourn on Thursday

Thursday marked the final day for state lawmakers as both the Oklahoma House and Senate adjourned after a full legislative session. Some energy-related highlights from the 58th Session include: House Bill 2029 (Rep. Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa/Sen. Zack Taylor, R-Seminole) Modifies the definition of division order when related to oil and gas. This measure passed the …

Continue reading »

Homeland Security to Require Cybersecurity Reporting by Pipeline Industry

In the wake of last month’s debilitating Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced a security directive that will enable it to safeguard critical companies in the pipeline industry by identifying, protecting and responding to cybersecurity threats, according to an agency press release issued on Thursday. “The cybersecurity …

Continue reading »

FEMA Earthquake Mitigation Activities Dashboard Now Available

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently released its National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) dashboard to provide the public with an overview of how grant money is spent. The activities detailed in the dashboard support local earthquake safety, mitigation and resilience activities. The FEMA NEHRP State Assistance Grant Program makes funding available through annual, non-competitive grants …

Continue reading »

1.6 Million Colorado Residents Affected by Data Breaches Since 2020

Colorado has a strong data security bill, but to give more control to consumers, two more data privacy laws have been proposed. The Colorado Attorney General recently reported that data breaches have impacted 1.6 million residents and nearly 200 organizations since January 2020. This significant risk exposure has caused state legislators to introduce two new …

Continue reading »

Inhofe Sounds Off on Lesser Prairie Chicken Proposal Impacting Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s senior statesman is ruffling feathers after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to list two distinct population segments of the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act on Wednesday. “Evidence shows that the lesser prairie chicken is thriving, making this proposal to list it as ‘threatened’ in Oklahoma completely unnecessary,” said …

Continue reading »

Inhofe Praises Committee Passage of Surface Transportation Bill

Following the unanimous vote on the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 (STRA) by the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe praised its passage and announced how this key legislation will benefit Oklahoma. “This bill included a number of provisions that benefit Oklahomans, including my provisions to designate U.S. Route …

Continue reading »

OU Energy Faculty Couple Pleads Guilty to Charges Involving DOE Grants

A Norman couple charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud has pleaded guilty to making false statements regarding grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, according to a KFOR report on Wednesday. Shaorong Liu and Juan Lu were charged on February 18, 2021 after a federal grand jury returned a 16-count indictment. Liu is identified …

Continue reading »

Who’ll replace Hunter to defend Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry?

  Known as an attorney general who stood up for Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry, Mike Hunter is leaving office in a move that stunned the state capitol on Wednesday. Less than two weeks after he joined 18 other state attorneys general in urging President Biden to support additional energy infrastructure including the Keystone XL …

Continue reading »

Initial repairs made to cracked bridge over Mississippi River

The first phase of repairs have been made by crews trying to repair the cracked bridge over the Mississippi River connecting Arkansas to Memphis, Tennessee.The Arkansas Transportation Department announced this week that the second round of repairs will be underway on the Hernando DeSoto Bridge.A report by The State indicated crews put two 30-foot steel …

Continue reading »

Energy news in brief

** A Louisiana natural gas well explodes, injuring four, following an oil well blowout. ** President Biden plans to rely on ally countries to supply the bulk of the metals needed to build electric vehicles while focusing on processing the materials into battery parts domestically. ** Michigan lawmakers consider a preemptive ban on local ordinances that limit the use of natural …

Continue reading »