April 10, 2024 archive

Commissioners react to Attorney General’s lawsuits

  Corporation Commissioner Kim David appears to be taking some of the credit for the investigation that led to State Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s lawsuits accusing two energy firms of market manipulation during the 2021 Winter Storm Uri. “Shortly after joining the Corporation Commission, I formally asked Attorney General Gentner Drummond to investigate possible wrongdoing …

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Deadly Israeli air strike sent crude oil prices up in Wednesday’s trading

  An Israeli air strike that killed three sons of a Hamas leader is believed to have sparked a $1 a barrel gain in crude oil prices on Wednesday. The deaths only added to growing worries that the ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel won’t lead to success in ending the fighting in Gaza. It …

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US sees surge in crude oil stocks while Cushing’s total dips

  A surge in crude oil stocks was reported by the government in the past week while the Cushing Hub in Oklahoma recorded a slight drop in its supplies. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported the nation’s crude stocks soared by nearly 6 million barrels from the end of March to early April. On March …

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Lucas and other Republicans jump on SEC leaders for climate disclosure rule

  Republicans, including Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas, piled on the Biden administration’s Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday for its climate disclosure rule. Lucas and other members of the House Financial Services Committee spoke out against the rule during a hearing that featured Elad Roisman, Acting Chairman of the SEC and Robert Stebbins, General Counsel of …

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Oklahoma AG files lawsuits over 2021 winter storm market manipulation

Months after announcing the start of an investigation into alleged market manipulation of natural gas prices during the 2021 Winter Storm Uri, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond launched the filing of lawsuits against some energy suppliers. He filed two lawsuits in Osage County District Court on behalf of the Grand River Dam Authority, alleging certain …

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Energy Alliance leader wants state unity in fighting Biden’s war on oil and gas—not different stands

  The chairman of the Oklahoma Energy Producers Alliance says it’s time two of Oklahoma’s state leaders work together in defending the state’s oil and gas industry and not be different in their stances. Writing in an opinion piece entitled “Defending Oklahoma’s Energy Sector: A Call for Unity and Strategic Action,” Tom McCasland III applauded …

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Colorado officials upset over Xcel Energy power cutoff during 100 mph winds

  When winds of 70 mph to 100 mph were forecast last week in Colorado, utility company Xcel Energy thought it was doing the right thing by implementing pre-planned power outages to more than 55,000 customers along the Front Range. It wanted to prevent wildfires. Now Boulder County officials are critical of the utility for …

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Albuquerque hydroden development firm receives $20 million in federal funding

(Pajarito Powder CEO Tom Stephenson and project principal investigator Michele Ostraat stand in Pajarito’s new facility in December 2023. Jon Austria / Journal)   The federal government just handed out $20 million for a clean hydrogen energy project in New Mexico and it all went to one company. The $20 million from the U.S. Department of …

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State regulators to consider utililty requests

  Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners are to meet Thursday to consider actions that will affect the rates paid by utility consumers. During the 1:30 p.m. meeting, the three commissioners will hold a public hearing on OGE’s application for a fuel adjustment clause case (PUD2023-000055). The hearing will also focus on the utility’s financial hedging program. A …

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Rep. Cole chosen for powerful position as leader of House Appropriations Committee

  Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole will be in a major leadership role in the House after being picked to be the next Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. The Committee is considered one of the more powerful and influential committees in the House because it is responsible for passing appropriation bills along with its Senate …

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