The small town of Arkoma, Oklahoma may have just avoided going to court against Fort Smith, Arkansas. Arkoma had been fighting a proposed massive increase of 225% in wastewater rates from Fort Smith which provides the services to the border town. But on Tuesday, the Fort Smith Board of Directors decided against two options …
Iowa legislators want to override governor’s veto of carbon capture pipeline bill
With U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley on their side, Representatives in the Iowa State House voted this week to call for a special session to override Gov. Kim Reynolds’ veto of a bill to put more restrictions on proposed carbon capture pipelines in the state. Grassley applauded the override attempt. “This veto was a …
Legislator active in energy efforts announces candidacy for Corporation Commission
State Rep. Brad Boles, Marlow, announced his candidacy this week for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. His announcement described him as a candidate with “a proven track record of conservative leadership, private sector success, and deep experience in Oklahoma’s critical energy, utility, and manufacturing industries,” and that he brings unmatched qualifications to the role. …
Energy briefs
** The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a bid by Chevron, Exxon Mobil and other oil and gas companies to have lawsuits brought by two Louisiana localities accusing them of harming the state’s coast over a period of decades moved out of state court and into federal court. ** Four former Massachusetts …
Corporation Commissioners to get update on electric production for power grid
A detailed report on the status of Oklahoma’s electric production capabilities and how it corresponds with the regional power grid will be a focus of Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners when they meet Wednesday afternoon. Representataives of the Southwest Power Pool as well as two major utilities, Public Service Company of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Gas and …
Oil prices rebound and Israel-Iran war shows no letup
After a decline on Monday, crude oil prices gained more than 4% on Tuesday as the fighting continued between Israel and Iran, showing signs that investors are indeed quite concerned the war will disrupt the flow of oil out of the Middle East. Prices had fallen Monday on word that Iran reportedly wanted to …
Possible change in phaseout of wind/solar subsidies
Wind and solar energy industries would still be targeted for elimination of tax subsidies but not hydropower, nuclear and geothermal energy under a bill unveiled this week by a Senate Committee. The Senate Finance Committee, of which Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford is a member, came out with a draft bill being circulated …
Chevron enters lithium extraction race
Add Chevron Corp. to the list of major energy firms entering the lithium mining industry in the Smackover Formation of southern Arkansas. The Houston-based firm announced Tuesday it had entered the U.S. lithium extraction sector with the acquisition of nearly 125,000 net acres involving two deals. One of the acquisitions was from TerraVolta Resources …
Opposition to data center results in petition drive
Skepticism has turned into activism following last month’s revelation that Luther in eastern Oklahoma County might be the site of a data center. It was May 29 when Beltline Energy, a firm based in Georgia, explained it was considering the construction of a data center within town limits. But now a petition is …
Another NextEra Energy solar farm fight is underway
NextEra Energy faces yet another challenge just two days after the nation’s biggest renewable energy firm suffered a setback at the hands of Wagoner County Commissioners in northeast Oklahoma who rejected the company’s plans for a nearly 5,000-acre solar farm near the town of Porter. NextEra finds itself in Kansas City federal court …
