** During President Donald Trump’s visit to a wildfire-plagued California, he rejected that climate change is at the root of the West Coast’s ongoing state of disaster and instead blamed poor forest management, saying “I don’t think science knows” what is actually happening in the state. ** The U.S. clean energy sector added 13,556 jobs in …
2020 archive
Wyoming Senator blasts EPA decision on biofuels mandates
While the EPA administrator defends this week’s decision to deny small refinery exemptions of biofuels mandates, Wyoming U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi says it will hurt energy workers. “I’m disappointed in the EPA’s denial of these important small refinery waivers,” Enzi said in a press release from his office reported the Oil City News in Casper. “The …
COVID-19 pandemic claims a proposed Permian basin pipeline
Developers of a planned crude oil pipeline to connect the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeast New Mexico have decided to cancel the project, blaming a struggling market during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enterprise Products Partners announced on Sept. 9 that it was cancelling its Midland to Echo 4 crude oil pipeline project that …
Dell Technologies preparing for job cuts, report states
Bloomberg News reports Dell Technologies is preparing to eliminate jobs as more businesses continue to struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic. How it might affect the company’s operations in Oklahoma City is unclear at this time. Dell is headquartered in the Austin, Texas suburb of Round Rock. The company’s chief operating officer, Jeff Clarke, informed …
EPA sides with farmers on ethanol, rejects refinery waivers
Federal regulators on Monday handed a victory to corn farmers and the renewable fuels industry by refusing to allow a group of petroleum refiners in 14 states to forego requirements to blend ethanol into the gasoline they make. It’s unclear how the action might affect the Supreme Court challenge of CVR Energy and its …
$750 million in notes offered by HollyFrontier
HollyFrontier Corporation is looking for more investors as the Dallas-based company announced the offering of $750 million in senior notes. The operator of a refinery in Tulsa as well as others across the U.S. said $350 million will involve 2.625% senior notes due 2023. Another $400 million in 4.500% senior notes due 2030 will …
EPA finalizes first ever rule to promote transparency in developing regulatory guidance documents
Improved transparency at the EPA—Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford calls it “great news.” He commented after Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced this week the final rule to establish consistent requirements and procedures for the issuance of guidance documents. “This change might seem minor to some, but if you have ever had to …
Challenger contends Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett’s breaking the rules
As Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett faces questions about using unspent campaign money to pay for an office, his lone challenger in this year’s election contends Hiett is breaking the state’s campaign rules. Todd Hagopian, the Libertarian candidate seeking to unseat Hiett on the Commission said, “The rules are pretty straightforward here and Commissioner …
New Mexico communities awarded more than $776K for recycling, illegal dumpsite clean-up projects
The New Mexico Environment Department is excited to announce the newest round of recipients of Recycling and Illegal Dumping (RAID) grants for fiscal year 2021. Communities, tribes and pueblos around the state – many in rural areas – received more than $776,000 for projects related to recycling, cleaning up illegal dumpsites, conducting community outreach …
Devon Energy funds “Wall of Women” for Girl Scouts
Devon Energy is leveraging its 20-plus year relationship with the Girl Scouts to bring learning opportunities to girls in central and western Oklahoma. With help from the people of Oklahoma Oil and Natural Gas through the OERB, Devon funded the Wall of Women, an interactive touch screen mural featuring women in technical fields. The wall …