** U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Friday called for more nuclear reactors to be built in the United States and worldwide. But the CEO of the Georgia utility that just finished the first two scratch-built American reactors in a generation at a cost of nearly $35 billion says his company isn’t ready to pick …
May 2024 archive
Oklahoma swift water rescue teams helping in Texas
Oklahoma has a swift water rescue team helping in Texas following the state’s severe weather and ongoing flood response. Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said a Type 1 swift water rescue team involves 16 members from Oklahoma City and Tulsa fire departments along with boats and equipment. They were …
Chevron employs new style of drone for pipeline surveillance
A new type of drone is taking to the skies on an important mission: inspecting oil and gas pipelines. Working together, Chevron and American Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (AATI) recently made history as the first companies permitted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to use uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) in airspace shared by crewed aircraft. Chevron will …
Thursday’s trading produced a nearly 2% drop in US crude oil prices
While crude oil prices dropped Thursday for a second straight day, Oklahoma energy stocks made gains. The price drop came after a weak fuel demand across the country was reported by the government. There was also a surprise increase in gasoline stockpiles. West Texas Intermediate crude took a slide of $1.32 or 1.7% to $77.91 …
The gloves come off at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission—charges fly over winter storm costs
A division of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission came out this week with a report blaming Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony as well as former legislator Mike Reynolds, of $277 million in additional costs to ratepayers over the 2021 Winter Storm securitization and bond costs. It led to Reynolds saying he was “astounded” and Anthony calling …
Crude oil stocks plunge at Cushing Hub and across the US
Crude stocks took a dip in the past week across the U.S. and at the Cushing Hub in Oklahoma. The nation’s total crude oil stocks, reported the U.S. Energy Information Administration, dropped from 458.8 million barrels as of May 17 to 454.7 million barrels on May 24. The more than 4 million barrel decline …
Oklahoma Senate supports bill to investigate aluminum contamination in Blue River
Suspected aluminum contamination of the Blue River and Little Blue Creek in southern Oklahoma will be targeted under a bill that won state Senate approval this week. The Senate on Wednesday passed Senate Bill 1273, by Sen. Jerry Alvord, R-Ardmore, off the floor. The measure seeks to investigate and improve the water quality of …
SPP power grid raises questions about EPA’s greenhouse gas emissions rule
The Southwest Power Pool, the power grid controlling Oklahoma and 13 other states, joined others in raising questions about the impact of a final greenhouse gas emissions rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. In a recent statement, the SPP “asserts the EPA rule could negatively impact the nation’s ability to provide consumers …
Governor signs legislation to focus on improvement of state’s ports
Governor Kevin Stitt signed a measure into law this week aimed at putting more focus on Oklahoma Ports along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. Specifically, Senate Bill 1429, authored by Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, redesignates the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System Infrastructure Revolving Fund to the Oklahoma Ports Infrastructure Revolving Fund …
Drought still lingers in Oklahoma
Despite the rain in recent weeks in Oklahoma, guess what is still with us? The drought! State Climatologist Gary McManus explained it “just hasn’t rained enough to relieve drought, or stop its intensification.” And he said there are still deficits out there even in the past 30 days. To make his case, he compared the …