December 2, 2024 archive

November was an “historic” weather month in Oklahoma

  What do you remember about the weather in the month of November in Oklahoma? State Climatologist Gary McManus reported this week that November 2024 will enter Oklahoma’s vast and storied weather lore as one of the most extreme months in state history, shattering records for both the highest statewide average rainfall and the most tornadoes ever …

Continue reading »

Crude oil prices held steady on Monday

  Crude oil prices held mostly steady in Monday’s trading, thanks largely to stronger hopes there wll be higher demand because of increased factory activity in China.  But those high hopes were also offset after word was made known that the U.S. Federal Reserve does not plan to cut interest rates again at its meeting …

Continue reading »

Tesla’s loss is EVgo’s gain to build EV charging network on OKC’s I-44

  The Oklahoma Transportation Commissioners made quick work Monday of approving a new firm to build part of Oklahoma’s EV charging network mandated by the federal government. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or NEVI charging infrastructure contract was awarded to EVgo to locate part of the network along Interstate 44. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve …

Continue reading »

States sue BlackRock and others for financial discrimination of coal

  BlackRock and two other financial firms have been taken to court by Texas and 10 other states accusing them of violating antitrust law by using their climate activism to reduce coal production and at the same time boosting energy prices. It’s a lawsuit very similar to the anti-ESG laws created by Oklahoma, Texas and …

Continue reading »

Will Oklahoma’s share of more than $1 billion for cleaner highway construction be approved in a Trump administration?

  Questions are being raised whether the $1.2 billion in grants to Oklahoma and 36 other states in November to make use of cleaner asphalt, concrete, glass and steel for highway projects will actually be funded in a Trump administration. Oklahoma is set to receive $31,933,577 and the same amount was awarded to Kansas, Missouri …

Continue reading »

Energy briefs

**  Boeing’s CEO is cutting private jet use for executives to reduce costs. The company directed executives to fly economy on commercial flights instead. Boeing is searching for ways to save money after a rough year. ** Tyson Foods on Monday announced to employees it would close its facility in Emporia, Kansas in February 2025. The plant …

Continue reading »

Petroleum group loses court fight over New Mexico’s climate change efforts

  New Mexico’s regulatory crackdown on the state’s prolific oil and gas industry has been upheld by the state Court of Appeals in a legal fight with the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico. The fight focused on a 2022 rule created by state regulators to curb pollutants that create ground-level ozone. The rule had …

Continue reading »

Arkansas Attorney General says 2023 storms were not the norm and should not be used as basis for Entergy Arkansas rate hike request

  Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin contends the deadly storms of 2023 were an “outlier” and shouldn’t be the basis for a more than 4% rate hike request made by Entergy Arkansas. While Entergy seeks the hike to help pay for storm costs of last year, Griffin claims the 2023 tornadoes were not the norm …

Continue reading »

Another Broadband expansion set for this week in NE Oklahoma

  The Oklahoma Broadband Office will officially launch broadband expansion projects with internet service provider BOLT to improve access to high-speed internet service in four northeastern Oklahoma counties. The Wednesday morning ceremony will take place in Vinita. The projects will significantly enhance digital access to provide economic opportunity for residents and businesses in the area. …

Continue reading »

Oil and gas plays see steady drilling activity

    Drilling in the Permian Basin remains steady, based on figures from the latest Baker Hughes rig count. The report showed 303 oil and gas rigs were active in the basin of West Texas and southeast New Mexico. It was the highest count in all of the nation’s various shale plays. The Eagle Ford …

Continue reading »