Federal regulators might decide in a matter of a few weeks on a final rule regarding transmission lines and how they are sited and how their costs are shared between states. It could have a big impact in Oklahoma where there has been an ongoing debate over whether to give utilities the power of …
March 2024 archive
Red cedar tree infestation adds to wildfire dangers in Oklahoma
Fourteen years after former Oklahoma City Rep. Richard Morrissette convinced the legislature that the state’s red cedar tree infestation was becoming a serious fire and water issue, it remains so. Back in 2010, Morrissette’s work led to the Eastern Redcedar Initiative Act signed into law by Gov. Brad Henry. His continued efforts in succeeding …
ONEOK’s annual meeting date is set
ONEOK set the date for its annual meeting in May. The company said it will be a virtual only meeting on Wednesday, May 22 and will begin at 9 a.m. Central Time. It will be available through a live webcast. Registration will open on April 3. The record date for shareholders to receive a …
Williams to expand natural gas line in Virginia
An expansion of the Williams Cos.’ Transco pipeline in Virginia is being launched as the company plans public meetings in surrounding towns and cities. Williams is adding more than 26 miles of 42-inch-diamter pipeline in Pittsylvania County. The project is to be part of the Tulsa-based company’s proposed Southeast Supply Enhancement project to …
Energy quick reads
** A powerful blizzard in northern California intensified over the weekend, leaving drivers stranded and knocking out power to thousands of homes. A second system could bring more snowfall to the region, according to the National Weather Service. ** Owners of Nissan Leaf electric cars have accused the firm of “dumping its pioneers” after it announced …
Xcel Energy power pole suspected cause of million acre fires in Oklahoma and Texas
Only about 15% of the wildfire that burned more than 1 million acres of land in the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma is under control as state officials call for an investigation into what caused the fires. One belief is a downed power line caused the blaze and attorneys for one land owner …
ONE Gas rate hike request in Kansas
ONE Gas, Inc. wants higher rates. $58 million more. Not in Oklahoma but in Kansas where its division, the Kansas Gas Service filed a request with the Kansas Corporation Commission to increase rates “to recover the investments made to maintain a safe, reliable and environmentally responsible natural gas distribution system across Kansas.” If approved …
EPA steps away from rule on gas-fired power plants
The Biden Administration and its Environmental Protection Agency are backing off deeply opposed plans to apply restrictive climate rules on the 2,000 gas-fired power plants across the U.S., including those in Oklahoma. But it is only temporary—until after the November election. The rule drew a rebuke last summer of Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. …
Chesapeake Energy and Southwestern Energy proposed shareholder meetings to decide on merger
Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy and Houston’s Southwestern Energy Company are preparing for virtual meetings of shareholders to approve the merger they announced in January. The all-stock transaction valued at $7.4 billion was announced January 10 and at the time, the two firms revealed a new company name would be chosen but the firm would remain …
Writer says wind farms are not farms…but industrial sites
As a fight between Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry and the renewable power groups took shape in recent days, it would appear more governments around the U.S. are pulling in the reins on the growth of wind and solar farms. With 40 years under his belt in the US energy industry, David Blackmon …
