June 25, 2018 archive

Wind money goes to legislators who supported the wind industry

Oklahoma legislators who have supported the wind industry received tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the American Wind action, an advocacy group for the wind industry. The money came as they campaigned for the June 26 primary election. In all, the AWA reported spending $178,693 in support of friendly legislators including $30,035 …

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Solid waste spill cleaned up on Miami city bridge

Quite a mess was recently cleaned up on a bridge over the Neosho River in the city of Miami. It was caused by a city worker hauling bio-solid waste in a truck and the driver smashed into the highway 125 bridge resulting in the spill.  The Miami News Herald described it as “slimy, smelly goop” …

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Wind farm operator drops plans for wind farms near Sheppard Air Force Base at Wichita Falls

A Canadian-based wind industry operator has pulled out of a potential fight with the Air Force over locating a proposed wind farm near the Sheppard Air Force base in Wichita Falls, Texas. Innergex, headquartered in Quebec  had originally planned for construction of wind farms near Byers and Bluegrove, Texas. Now it has backed out of …

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Shale Gale report predicts 60 percent natural gas production growth in 20 years

A new report by IHS Markit research claims natural gas production in the U.S. will swell another 60 percent in the next two decades. The firm says the nation’s natural gas production already soared 60 percent in the past ten days following the country’s shale boom. And it believes there will be no letup in …

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Gasoline prices drop to $2.56 average in Oklahoma—lowest in the region

Gasoline prices have dropped in the past week in Oklahoma’s two major cities but for those drivers in the northwest part of the state, they’re paying averages ranging from $2.72 to $2.86 a gallon. The national average is $2.85, down 5 cents from a week ago. AAA Oklahoma reports the state’s average is $2.56 a …

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NASA’s Bridenstine speaks of space junk and getting man back on the moon

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine was on hand recently for the third meeting of the National Space Council. It was his first to attend since becoming the newest administrator after leaving Congress where he represented Oklahoma’s 1st U.S. House District. Bridenstine also gave an update on NASA activities. “The architecture that we’re building now is entirely …

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Weekend rains might have ended much of Oklahoma’s drought

Kiss some of the drought goodbye in Oklahoma after weekend rains brought several inches of rainfall. In the northwest where the drought had been classified as extreme, the city of Fairview recorded more than 7 inches of rainfall since Friday. The total was 7.15 inches to be exact. No doubt, the total will be more …

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More political charges are leveled against Scott Pruitt

The more the national media digs into Scott Pruitt at the Environmental Protection Agency, the more allegations of “politics”  they find in what President Trump has called the “D.C. Swamp.” The latest comes from the New York Times which says Pruitt used his position at the EPA last year to consider hiring a friend of …

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Most expensive Attorney General race in Oklahoma history

As Oklahoma Attorney General, Mike Hunter has been heavily involved in energy issues, especially those before the State Corporation Commission. But if he wants to continue his energy fights, including opposition to PSO’s Wind Catcher wind farm and its transmission lines, he has to make it past Tuesday’s hotly-contested challenge from Tulsa businessman Gentner Drummond. …

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Five Labor Commissioner candidates hope to win this week’s primary election

One way or the other, after this year’s elections in Oklahoma, the state will have a new Labor Commissioner. And six candidates are hoping they win the November election. Five have to make it past this week’s primary election. Incumbent Commissioner Melissa McLawhorn Houston, appointed by Gov. Fallin in 2015 is not a candidate.  That …

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