May 15, 2018 archive

KCC Gets Time to Take Fight with FERC to US Supreme Court

The District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals agreed this week to hold off on issuing a mandate on a panel’s decision in February tossing a lawsuit filed by the Kansas Corporation Commission against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The decision came so the KCC has time to petition the U.S.  Supreme Court in the …

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Growing Carbon Monoxide Deaths from Keyless Ignition Cars

A New York Times story this week suggested growing instances of carbon monoxide deaths in the U.S. from people who drive keyless ignititon vehicles. It’s a case of people who can’t hear the engine and park the car in a garage, believing they turned off the vehicle.  But as the Times found out, more than …

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Retirement System Loses Appeal in Lawsuit Against Tulsa’s Williams Companies

A three-judge panel of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver has dismissed the appeal of the Rhode Island Employees’ Retirement System in a lawsuit against Tulsa’s Williams Companies, Williams Partners L.P. Williams Partners GP and company executives. The lawsuit was filed in March 2016 over the failed proposed merger of Williams and …

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Tulsa City Council Member Named to National EPA Advisory Committee

Tulsa City Councilman Ben Kimbro is one of 14 persons named to the Local government Advisory Committee of the Environmental Protection Agency. The 33-member LGAC helps EPA develop strong partnerships with local governments to provide more efficient and effective environmental protection at the community, state and federal level. “EPA’s efforts to protect public health and …

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Pruitt Likely to Face Another Barrage of Democratic Criticism at Senate Hearing

The latest revelation about EPA Chief Scott Pruitt’s demand for round-the-clock security from day one in office could be more fuel for his critics as he testified this week before a U.S. Senate Committee. Pruitt is to testify Wednesday before the Senate Appropriations-Interior-Environment Panel and observers expect it to be another confrontational hearing, much like …

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Oil and Gas Group Celebrates Legislative End with Fundraiser

The Oklahoma Oil & Gas Association (OKOGA) celebrated the end of the legislative session with a Sine Die event at the Harn Homestead in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE) and the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) each received a $7,500 check from OKOGA to help the organizations fulfill their missions to support children. “OKOGA is passionate about …

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Nine Energy Makes Big Improvements in One Quarter

Nine Energy Service, a Houston-based oilfield services company with operating facilities in Oklahoma’s SCOOP and STACK reported first quarter revenue of nearly $174 million. In an earnings report released this week, the company also said net income was $1.7 million while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization came to $24.1 million. The first …

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Senate Leader Defends Increase in Gasoline Taxes

As one of the Oklahoma legislature’s leaders in forming a new state budget, State Senator Kim David, a Republican from Porter maintains a hike in gasoline taxes is necessary  to funding good roads. Interviewed for the State Treasurer’s monthly Oklahoma Economic Report, the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee claimed that much of the coming …

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AG Wants Guaranteed Ratepayer Protections as part of Wind Catcher Project

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter is asking the State Corporation Commission for guaranteed ratepayer protections for customers if the PSO Wind Catcher Project in the Panhandle is granted preapproval by the commission. It is his latest legal move as he continues to oppose the giant wind farm to be built near Guymon. In a filing …

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Gasoline Prices Spike in Oklahoma and US Following New Sanctions on Iran

Gasoline prices in Oklahoma and across the nation jumped several cents a gallon, largely due to the President’s decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear arms deal and re-impose sanctions on the country. Oklahoma’s prices jumped from an average $2.54 last week to $2.61 this week. Nationally, the average rose six cents to reach …

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