2020 archive

More problems for Air Force’s new KC 46 tankers

Those troubled new KC-46 tankers at Altus Air Force base in Southwest Oklahoma and McConnell Air Force base in Wichita, Kansas might have another problem—leading fuel lines. Boeing Co., already behind in its production of the new air refueling tankers revealed this week it added leaking fuel lines as a new Category 1 deficiency on …

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Whiting Petroleum enters Chapter 11 bankruptcy

  Less than a week after dipping into its credit source to the tune of $650 million, Denver-based Whiting Petroleum Corporation is heading to Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy. The company announced Wednesday it started Chapter 11 in the Southern District of Texas bankruptcy court and also did so after reaching agreement with some of its …

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Last coal power plant in New York closed this week

  New York State’s coal-burning era ended Tuesday when Somerset Operating Co. officially retired its power plant on the shore of Lake Ontario in Niagara County. It means the share of the state’s power generation coming from coal will fall to zero. “We were the last coal-fired plant in New York State,” plant manager Brian …

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Administration to consider plan to lease oil storage sites

  With the country’s main oil storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma filling up, it’s reported that the Trump administration plans to lease out space for energy companies to store oil in the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve. This, after a previous effort to buy millions of barrels for the emergency stockpile was canceled over a lack …

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Oil hovers near $20 a barrel hitting an 18-year low

  A day after slipping closer to the $20 a barrel mark, oil prices gained slightly but still are devastating to the industry in Oklahoma, Texas and other states. Internationally, oil prices reached their lowest level since November 2002. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 39 cents in Tuesday’s trading before closing at $20.48 a barrel, …

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Developer moves ahead with Keystone XL Pipeline

  Despite the dramatic decline of oil prices and the global impact of the coronavirus pandemic, TC Energy Corporation is going ahead with construction of the nearly $8 billion Keystone XL pipeline project. “We appreciate the ongoing backing of landowners, customers, Indigenous groups and numerous partners in the U.S. and Canada who helped us secure …

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Downturn caused by virus leaves frac miners struggling for survival

  The frac sand mining industry in Minnesota and Wisconsin was already struggling before the coronavirus-related downturn made matters worse. Frac sand miner Jordan Sands in North Mankato, Minnesota was pushed into receivership recently after its banker declared a loan default. A few months earlier, Minnesota’s largest frac sand producer by far, the Kasota mine …

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Nebraska ethanol maker to suspend production in April, citing plummeting fuel demand

Nebraska-based Siouxland Ethanol is shutting its operations because of the low demand for the corn-based fuel additive in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Located in Jackson, Nebraska the company posted a “special alert” on its website this week, predicting U.S. ethanol production would have to be slashed by 50 percent before production could be …

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Southwest parks a lot of its planes

  Instead of flying from one major city to another in the U.S., Southwest airliners are being parked by the dozens, a result of a large drop in customers afraid to fly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. CEO Gary Kelly announced this week the airline is not only parking more planes, but is considering early …

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Pandemic forces Tallgrass Energy to hold virtual shareholders meeting

  Tallgrass Energy, LP in Kansas City, a major pipeline operator that carries crude to Cushing, Oklahoma announced it intends to hold a virtual upcoming shareholders meeting rather than one in person. The company announced it was due to the public health impact of the coronavirus pandemic and out of concern for the company’s employees …

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