** The US, home to more oil refineries than any other country, lost its title to China as the world’s largest refiner of raw crude oil in 2020. China began refining more crude oil into gasoline and other products for the first time during the pandemic, according to new data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), and …
March 2021 archive
Mesa Royalty Trust continues losses
The last time the Mesa Royalty Trust reported any distribution of income was in May of 2020. Like it has since June 2020, the Trust won’t have any monthly distribution for March according to an announcement. The trust announced to holders of record that costs, charges and expenses exceeded the revenue receive from the …
Keystone lawsuit just the beginning?
When Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter joined dozens of other Republican attorneys general last week in suing President Biden over his move to kill the Keystone XL pipeline, it might have been a notice of more to come. Who knows. But it could also be a sign that the GOP attorneys general plan to …
Blueknight Energy seeks investors at energy summit
Tulsa’s Blueknight Energy Partners will be targeting new investors this week as the firm takes part in the 4th annual Truist Securities 2021 Utilities, Midstream & Alternative Energy Summit. Blueknight’s Chief Executive Officer Andrew Woodward and Chief Financial Officer Matthew Lewis will participate in virtual investor meetings at the summit on Thursday, March 25. …
Biden urged to start phase-out of gas-powered cars
The growth of electric vehicles in the more heavily-populated states on the East and West Coasts and a campaign to end production of gasoline-powered cars went to the White House this week. As a result, Oklahoma drivers are learning that California’s two U.S. Senators, Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla want the President to …
Where can we put all those wind turbines?
As the Biden administration and environmentalists clamor for more renewable energy, there’s a big push for the expansion of wind power. Some question the amount of land needed for large wind farms such as opposition in Iowa on a recent proposed wind farm that would consume 1,200 acres of farmland. It’s one thing to put …
$4 billion Colorado plan to turn state into EV drivers
If the Colorado legislature approves it, drivers in the state will soon pay 2 more cents a gallon of gasoline to improve transportation and help transition to more electric vehicles. It’s part of the policy of Gov. Jared Polis who wants to improve air quality, expand public transportation and make it easier for people …
Massive boulder puts Colorado hydroelectric plant out of operation
A boulder the size of a pool table badly damaged the oldest operating hydropower plant in the U.S. in Ouray, Colorado this past week. The boulder sheared off a canyon wall and not only destroyed a metal walkway to the Ice Ice Park’s popular ice climbs but also ripped out the penstock that ferries …
February winter storm over charges turns into Texas political storm
The $16 billion in charges to the Texas electricity market during the February winter storm has created a political storm of its own in the Texas legislature. Like the storm that claimed more than 50 lives, it too promises to be an historic one as leaders debate—no, argue—over whether the charges should be reversed. …
A pipeline first for FERC
The federal energy board in charge of the nation’s pipelines has for the first time started consideration of how a natural gas line will affect greenhouse gas emissions. With a new Democratic chair, Richard Glick at the helm, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted 3-2 to approve a pipeline operator’s request to replace 87 miles of …