It was no April Fool’s joke that Colorado began collecting a 2-cent-a-gallon fee on gasoline purchases to help fund the state’s transportation project backlog. Colorado’s average price of gasoline, according to AAA, is $3.46 a gallon but in some counties, it’s up to $4 a gallon. The tax took effect April 1 after being …
April 2023 archive
“Endangered” declaration for bat could stop wind projects in Wyoming
The Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to list the long-eared bat as “endangered” not only was opposed by Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, but now has caught the attention of others a few states away. In declaring his opposition to the move, Sen. Mullin stated the decision would have serious consequences for infrastructure projects …
Sen. Mullin finishes first tour of western Oklahoma
U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin wrapped up his first ever tour of western Oklahoma since taking office following the November 2022 elections. Mullin visited 15 cities in the past several days, including Guymon and Boise City in the Panhandle. He finished his tour on Thursday with stops in Lawton and Altus. Mullin is a member …
OKC to be part of national effort to map extreme heat cities
The government’s continued project to map extreme heat in populated areas will include Oklahoma City in the latest round of cities to be studied. Oklahoma City and 17 other communities will be part of the Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The program was launched in 2017 …
ESG investment policies a “clown show” claims Wyoming Secretary of State
Add the state of Wyoming to the list of those that want nothing to do with ESG policies affecting how the state invests its money. Oklahoma created a law against investment firms with ESG policies who discriminated against the oil and gas industry. This past week, Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray called such …
The “What If?” question about the Biden administration’s oil and gas policies
Where would the U.S. stand today in the world’s oil and gas production if President Biden on his first day in office had not taken the restricting actions he did against the industry? How would the recently-announced production cuts by OPEC+ affect us? A recent study by the Committee to Unleash Prosperity and authors …
Energy headlines across the US and the World
** The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to announce the new tailpipe emissions standards, which will impact cars manufactured between 2027-2032, next week during a ceremony in Detroit, Bloomberg reported, citing officials briefed on the proposal. In a statement, the EPA confirmed the standards are designed to incentivize consumers to purchase electric vehicles (EV). ** …
Oklahoma county wildfires caused $727,000 damages on last day of March
Oklahoma County Assessor Larry Stein reported the March 31 wildfire damage totaled more than $727,000 where at least two of the 76 homes and structures lost in the fires were in the county. Others were in Logan county and Stein’s assessment of damage did not include Logan County. “Our crews and I were at …
Flip Flopping charges made by oil and gas against the Biden DOJ
The Justice Department has been accused of “flip-flopping” in a case involving the efforts of Boulder, Colorado seeking climate change-related damages. The oil and gas industry, represented by ExxonMobil Corp. and Suncor Energy Inc. contends the government changed its argument since the original argument. The firms challenged a February 2022 ruling by the 10th U.S. …
Mitchell Talks Energy—tense politics at the Corporation Commission and more
When Scott Mitchell talks energy, you just never know where the discussion will go. In the latest edition of “Mitchell Talks Energy,” he and OK Energy Today’s Jerry Bohnen delve into the latest debate at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and how the political differences among the 3 commissioners are growing a little tense. Plus, …