June 12, 2019 archive

Chemical Safety Board says 2018 Quinton well blowout was a “needless catastrophe”

The final report into the January 2018 well blowout and fire that killed five workers on a gas rig near Quinton in Southeast Oklahoma was released by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board on Wednesday. The Board laid blame on what it called “significant lapses in good safety practices” at the site, stating there was also …

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Losses force OKC’s SandRidge Energy to lay off workers

Layoffs hit Oklahoma City’s SandRidge Energy this week. The company did not reveal the number of employees who were laid off, but in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission explained the layoffs totaled more than 10% of its workforce of 310 employees. President and Chief Executive Officer Paul McKinney, on the job since …

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Six Flags opens world’s first solar-powered theme park

Six Flags Entertainment, the company that operates Frontier City amusement park in Oklahoma City has made a major move toward solar power. The company announced that its World’s Ultimate Thrill Park located in Jackson, New Jersey is nearly fully-powered by solar energy.  It is the state’s largest net metered solar project and one of the …

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Cheniere Energy adds a new member to its board of directors

Even as Houston’s Cheniere Energy is spending $1 billion to build a new gasline across Oklahoma, the company is expanding its board of directors. Michele A. Evans, Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics joined the board effective June 7 as an independent director. Evans has more than 32 years of experience in the defense …

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Williams Cos. joins movement to cut methane gas emissions and be “environmentally friendly”

First Devon Energy in Oklahoma City announced a move to cut methane gas emissions in an effort to be environmentally friendly. Now Williams Cos. of Tulsa has done the same thing. The company announced it has joined the Our Nation’s Energy Future Coalition, a natural gas industry-led group dedicating to voluntarily achieving meaningful reductions in methane …

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Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer to celebrate 20 years of service

  Amtrak’s gearing up to celebrate  its 20th anniversary of the Heartland Flyer in Oklahoma. The celebration will be observed on Friday,  June 14. It was in 1999 when passenger rail returned to Oklahoma as the Amtrak Heartland Flyer hit the rails between Oklahoma and Texas. The daily service by Amtrak has carried more than …

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More Oklahoma counties are to get FEMA flood assistance

Governor Kevin Stitt announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved the state’s request for disaster assistance for seven more Oklahoma counties impacted by flooding, tornadoes, severe storms and straight-line winds. The disaster assistance benefits individuals and business owners affected by severe storms that have occurred since May 7 in Delaware, Kay, Mayes, Okmulgee, Payne, …

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DEQ to holding meeting on Eagle Industries Superfund Site in Midwest City

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is preparing to hold a public informational meeting on the Eagle Industries Superfund site in Midwest City. The meeting will be held Tuesday, June 18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Nick Harroz Community center, 200 N. Midwest Blvd in Midwest City. A presentation will be given …

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Congressman Hern tells House Democrats their Green New Deal would be “devastating” to Oklahoma

Oklahoma Republican congressman Kevin Hern made it clear to Democrats on Tuesday, their Green New Deal would be “devastating” to Oklahoma. During a House Budget Committee hearing in which costs of climate change were explored, the Tulsa U.S. Representative said the Deal would put thousands out of work in Oklahoma and other energy-producing states. “It …

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Permits to drill for June 11, 2019

Permits to drill issued for June 11, 2019.   None were processed.