Crude oil prices slid more than $3 a barrel in Wednesday’s session after U.S. .government data showed still more big increases in crude oil, gasoline and distillate inventories. At the same time, Oklahoma energy stocks suffered losses. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 3.1% on a $2.46 fall per barrel to $76.41 on the New …
February 2023 archive
Another round of heated exchanges between Oklahoma regulators
Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony thinks he and the two other commissioners have a constitutional responsibility to question billions of dollars in utility fees and rates. Especially cases involving ratepayer-backed bond programs that will extend 25 to 28 years. Fellow Commissioner Todd Hiett thinks Anthony is “always chasing some conspiracy theory.” Commission Director of …
Sen. Mullin draws committee assignments including Environment and Public Works
Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin managed to carry over the energy work he did when he was on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee. It was the same committee once chaired by retired U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, the man he replaced in the November 2022 election. …
Drought clings to much of Oklahoma
The drought in eastern Oklahoma might show signs of easing this week based on the latest winter storm. Otherwise, the Oklahoma Mesonet reported little improvement across the state. There was little change in Oklahoma’s drought situation in January, with 89% of the state in at least moderate drought at the end of the month according …
State Treasurer launches effort to find banks that discriminate against oil and gas companies
Oklahoma State Treasurer Todd Russ launched his efforts to locate those financial institutions that are discriminating against Oklahoma energy companies in the name of their ESG efforts. The Treasurer sent a letter and questionnaire to a list of national financial institutions, including fund managers and banks, to determine which companies “boycott energy companies” in Oklahoma. …
AARP to update its Oklahoma advocacy at state capitol
AARP Oklahoma, the group that has led a fight against continuing Corporation Commission approval of rate hikes and fuel cost adjustment hikes plans a virtual conservation next week to discuss its statewide advocacy work. During the Thursday, Feb. 9 event that starts at 10 a.m., AARP Oklahoma State Director Sean Voskuhl will outline advocacy …
Former Inhofe staffers picked by Lucas to join House Science Committee
Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas reached out to former staffers he once worked with and those who assisted retired U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, naming them to be senior staff on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee he chairs. “We have a great team lined up to support our Committee’s work, and each one brings …
Oklahomans off House Energy and Commerce
For the first time since former Oklahoma Rep. Markwayne Mullin was named to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2014, the committee will not have an Oklahoman serving as a member. Mullin is now in the U.S. Senate and the new makeup of the 52-member committee includes 29 Republicans and 23 Democrats—none …
New leader of House committee opposes limits on oil and gas development
Expect a new direction from the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee now that Republican Congressman Bruce Westerman of Arkansas is in charge. He admits his direction will depart from that of the Democrats because he wants to allow more mining and avoid limitations on fossil fuel production. Click here for Kansas Reflector
Tulsa I-44 interchange subject of $85 million federal highway grant
One of the nine grants totaling $1.2 billion for highway improvements nationally was an $85 million award to improve the I-44/U.S. 75 Interchange in Tulsa. It’s described as the largest ever received by the Oklahoma Transportation Department and will help pay for three phases of construction with a $205 million total cost reported the …