September 2024 archive

Senator wants 74,000 acres in western Colorado off-limits for oil and gas drilling

  Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennett is trying to get the support of Congress to block new oil and gas drillilng on 74,000 acres in the western part of his home state. The Democrat filed the Gunnison Outdoor Resource Protection (GORP) Act, a new legislative proposal that would safeguard more than 700,000 acres of public …

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Iowa goes to court over stockpiles of abandoned wind turbine blades

    The growing issue of old and abandoned wind-turbine blades just jumped into court in the state of Iowa. Iowa filed suit against an out-of-state firm for dumping the old blades in violation of the state’s solid-waste laws. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reported the suit was filed against Global Fiberglass Solutions based in Washington. …

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Report says nationwide crackdown on peaceful oil and gas protesters started in Oklahoma

  A report by The Guardian contends Oklahoma was the first state to target anti-fossil fuel protesters and it led to a nationwide movement by lobbyists and legislators to create a crackdown on peaceful protests against oil and gas expansion. The Guardian’s reported investigation claimed the lobbyists worked for major North American oil and gas …

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Commissioner Hiett fights legislators’ move to prohibit him from votes on major utilities

    Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett responded Friday to the claims of three state legislators who want him prohibited from further votes on fuel cases involving ONG, OG&E and PSO. On the deadline for him to respond to the claims of Reps. Tom Gann, Kevin West and Rick West, Hiett’s attorneys said the request …

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Energy briefs

** Time is running out to avoid the first major strike at shipping terminals along the East and Gulf coasts in nearly 50 years. A group of Biden administration officials, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, are meeting with United States Maritime Alliance representatives to negotiate a deal and prevent …

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Broadband board approves more grants to expand internet service

Grants totaling more than $158 million have been approved by the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board to bring high-speed internet service to some 28,000 homes and businesses in Oklahoma. Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act Capital Projects Fund (ARPA CPF), the board recently gave unanimous approval to 50 grants with 12 internet service providers (ISPs) …

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Arkansas landowners fight proposed lithium royalty rate

(AP/Rodrigo Abd)   Dozens of landowners and businesses in Arkansas are putting up a fight against a 1.82% royalty on lithium in the state. Reports indicated at least 74 owners and firms filed objections with the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission. They want the regulators to throw out five lithium companies’ joint application to establish …

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Oil and gas rig counts hold steady in Oklahoma and most of U.S.

  The number of oil and gas rigs active across the U.S. and in Oklahoma were steady over the past week, according to the latest Baker Hughes Co. rig count released on Friday. The report showed Oklahoma remained at 41 active rigs. The number compared to 35 rigs reported a year earlier. The U.S. count …

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State House Committee to study Kiamichi River and controversial hydro-electric plant idea

The issue of a proposed hydro-electric power plant on the Kiamichi River will be the focus of a state House Energy and Natural Resources Committee study in October. The Committee plans to take up the power plant, a proposal opposed by tribes, members of congress and some in the state legislature, during a hearing on …

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OGE crews help in Atlanta following arrival of Hurricane Helene

  Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company (OG&E) crews are quickly and safely restoring power two days after they were deployed to Georgia. Hurricane Helene made landfall on the Florida coastline as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing rain and damaging wind to surrounding states and leaving more than 4 million people without power across the South, …

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