The US Energy Department has approved a $189 million loan targeting methane leaks in oil and gas producing states, including Oklahoma where emissions detection towers will be located. The loan to Houston-based Long Path Technologies will allow the deployment of 1,000 large-area remote methane monitors across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, North Dakota and New …
January 2024 archive
Legislator targets unpaid tolls on Oklahoma turnpikes
Under current law, if a person owes toll money, they are prohibited from renewing their vehicle registration until they pay their toll. Representative Annie Menz, D-Norman, filed HB2968, which would remove the ability of Service Oklahoma to deny renewal vehicle registration for unpaid tolls. Menz says her office has received feedback from constituents about …
Consumers voice opposition to OGE’s latest rate hike request
The fight against Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company’s request for a nearly 14% rate hike this year is underway as consumers have already filed their protests with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. The protests and objections started within days after OG&E filed the request in late December. “You need to stop OG& E’s rate increase …
Corporation Commissioner says Winter storm Uri resulted in “worst financial abuse” to ratepayers in more than 30 years
An Opinion by Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony In just two weeks of February 2021, Oklahoma’s largest public utilities incurred some $2.8 billion in fuel and purchased power costs (compared to $1.3 billion for all of 2020). Then lawmakers and two Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners allowed those utilities to tack on another $2+ billion of financing (aka “securitization”) expenses by …
Energy quick reads
** The Supreme Court declined to weigh in on a climate change case the state of Minnesota is pursuing against ExxonMobil, the American Petroleum Institute trade group and other fossil fuel groups. ** The Supreme Court won’t take up a case seeking revive a proposed gold and copper mine that was blocked by the Environmental Protection …
Oklahoma schools receive $24 million in EPA grants to acquire electric buses
Seventeen Oklahoma school districts in Oklahoma were among dozens nationwide that received part of more than $1 billion from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to replace old fossil fuel powered buses and replace them with electric school buses. Oklahoma schools received more than $24 million in funding to acquire 61 electric buses as part …
Oil and gas revenue for State continues its decline
Declining tax revenue from oil and gas production continues to push total gross receipts revenues down in Oklahoma. Treasury Secretary Todd Russ reported receipts for the last 12 months total $16.96 billion, a decrease of $480 million, or 2.7 percent, when comparing revenue from the previous year. All tax sources in December total $1.41 …
New Mexico governor wants to use oil and gas revenue on expanding EV purchases
New Mexico’s Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants to fund more payouts for electric vehicles purchases in her state—and how does she proposed to pay for it? By using money generated from taxes on oil and gas revenue. The governor wants to increase general fund spending by 10% to strengthen housing opportunities, childhood literacy and …
Gasoline prices continue their decline in Oklahoma and the US
Heading into the past weekend, gasoline prices were down from 7 to 9 cents a gallon on average in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. AAA reported the national average for a gallon of gas dipped slightly by four cents since last week to $3.08. One reason could be lower demand, as fewer people are fueling …
Power grid to study Right of First Refusal for utilities
\ While Oklahoma wrestles with the possible idea of Right of First Refusal for utilities planning major transmission line projects, the Southwest Power Pool is examining what has become a controversial issue. SPP said it is accepting applications to create a pool of industry experts. These experts may be chosen to serve on an …