February 4, 2025 archive

Crude oil splits while Trump restores oil pressure on Iran

  Crude oil benchmarks went different ways at the end of Tuesday’s trading in the middle of the tariff skirmishes ensued by the Trump administration. While tariffs against Mexico and Canada were paused for 30 days, the President resumed his first-term pressure on Iran in yet another effort to drive Iranian oil exports to zero. …

Continue reading »

PSO’s fuel costs to get critical review by regulators

  Part of Public Service Company’s requests with state regulators that sparked filings against Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett’s particicpation goes again before the commission this week. Just a few weeks after Hiett and Corporation Commissioner Kim David approved a $119.5 million rate hike that will mean another $12 a month more for ratepayers, they will …

Continue reading »

Washington State farmers wage a fight against a transmission line

  Oklahoma landowners fighting transmission lines, solar and wind farms and eminent domain are part of what appears to be a growing movement across the nation. Take for example Washington state where farmers in one county are fighting a transmission line. They live in Grant County and learned that it’s easier for the local utility …

Continue reading »

Slow cleanup from southern Colorado gasoline spill

  More than a month after 23,000 gallons of gasoline spilled from a southern Colorado pipeline, some Durango families are dealing with the impact on their wells and homes. The pipeline owned by Enterprise Products Partners carried car fuel from Texas through New Mexico and into Colorado. It burst Dec. 5. Click here for Durango …

Continue reading »

Energy briefs

** President Donald Trump on Monday indicated that he wants to reach an agreement with Ukraine to gain access to the country’s rare earth materials as a condition for continuing U.S. support for its war against Russia. ** Colombian energy company Ecopetrol is renewing its oil joint venture with U.S. firm Occidental Petroleum in the Permian …

Continue reading »

Energy bills go before House Committee

  A state House Committee will meet Wednesday morning to consider a number of energy bills ranging from the state’s well plugging fund to required meters on water wells. HB1369 by Rep. Brad Boles calls for oil and gas drillers to meet required “financial ability to comply with the requirements for plugging, closure of surface …

Continue reading »

Restrictions on eminent domain proposed in Kansas legislature

  As Oklahoma legislators grapple with several eminent domain bills this year, a similar effort is underway in the Kansas legislature where a state Representative filed a bill to reform and limit the use of eminent domain. Rep. Brett Fairchild of St. John, Kansas filed HB2187 and said the measure was in response to concerns from …

Continue reading »

New executive position created at SPP

  A new appointment of one of the leadership executives at the Southwest Power Pool, the agency controlling the grid in Oklahoma and 13 other states, was named this week. Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) incoming President and CEO Lanny Nickell announced Feb. 4 that Kevin Bryant will join the organization as its first Executive Vice …

Continue reading »

Kiss those record high temperatures away!

  A day after record high temperatures on Monday in Oklahoma, the state was shivering from a wintry-like blast. Hard to believe on Tuesday that Monday temperatures actually beat the all-time highs for a February 3 in the state.   State Climatologist Gary McManus reported 89 degree readings were recorded n Beaver,Butler, Camargo, Elk City …

Continue reading »

ONEOK to build $1.4 billion LPG export terminal in Texas

  ONEOK’s signed a deal with another firm to build a new nearly $1.4  billion LPG export terminal in Texas as the company apparently is trying to take advantage of a reversal of the Biden administration’s freeze on LPG exports. The Tulsa-based company said it has entered into agreements with MPLX LP to form joint …

Continue reading »