October 2024 archive

OGE crews wrap up rebuilding and recovery efforts in Florida

After a week helping restore power in Florida following the hit by Hurricane Milton, Oklahoma Gas and Electric’s team of more than 100 line crews and support staff left for home over the weekend. Crews were deployed to help with the rebuilding and recovery efforts after Hurricane Milton caused widespread damage and power outages in …

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Need for water in western Kansas leads to court fight

  A move by the city of Hays in western Kansas to buy a ranch in a nearby county so it could pipe water to its residents has gone to court. Hays and another city, Russell, filed suit last week against Edwards County officials for creating zoning regulations that would prevent the flow of water …

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Little change in latest Baker Hughes rig counts

  The latest oil and gas rig count released by Baker Hughes Co. showed a gain in Oklahoma and a decline nationally. Oklahoma’s count increased by one to 42 rigs. It compared to 37 rigs reported one year ago. Nationally, the count fell one rig to 585. The total count saw a gain of one …

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Energy briefs

** An ethanol plant in central Illinois has stopped injecting carbon dioxide (CO2) into the ground after a potential leak was discovered on the property for the second time this year. The problems at the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) plant raise questions about the safety of about 150 other carbon capture wells proposed across the …

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Google takes advantage of largest solar farm in Texas

  They held a big ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday in central Texas for what is being called one of the largest solar projects in the U.S. And for Google, it was the firm’s largest solar electricity deal it’s ever made. The site is Buckholts, Texas and the event drew U.S. Energy Secretary Jenier Granholm who …

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Phillips 66 found guilty of trade secrets misappropriation and jury awards more than $600 million to plaintiff

  Phillips 66 just took a nearly $605 million hit in the pocketbook in a jury verdict involving a trade secrets misappropriation lawsuit filed by Propel Fuels, a retailer of low-carbon fuels at stations throughout California. After a five-week trial in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, a jury awarded a $604.9 million …

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EPA and New Mexico oil/gas producer settle air quality complaint for $9.4M

  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice announced a more than $9 million settlement with Hilcorp Energy Co. on Oct. 17 that resolved Clean Air Act and New Mexico Air Quality Control Act violations at the company’s oil and gas production operations in New Mexico. The case is the first of …

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OGE launches new generation project at Horseshoe Lake as plant celebrates 100th anniversary

  Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company broke ground on two new power generation units on Wednesday at its Horseshoe Lake Power Plant in Harrah, Oklahoma. During the groundbreaking, OG&E leaders, local officials, and Horseshoe Lake staff and retirees also celebrated the plant’s 100th year of providing power to central Oklahoma. “When Horseshoe Lake opened, electricity was …

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PSO parent’s proposal focuses on financial risk of power-hungry data centers

  Some of the largest companies in the world are fighting with the parent company of Public Service Co. of Oklahoma (PSO) over how to allocate financial risk from the growth of data centers. The utility, American Electric Power based in Columbus, Ohio, has asked the state to adopt rules that would require the owners …

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Nation’s crude oil supplies have dropped but not at the Cushing Hub in Oklahoma

  Lower crude oil prices on Thursday in the U.S. were apparently the result of falling crude oil stocks over the past week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a drop of 2.2 million barrels of crude oil. The U.S. stocks totaled 422.7 million barrels on Oct. 4 but fell to 420.5 million barrels the …

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