At least three bills affecting the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and public utilities go before an Oklahoma House Committee on Tuesday. One is an attempt to closely follow Corporation Commission activities with the Southwest Power Pool and to track votes and travel expenses. HB2155, by Rep. Mike Dobrinski, Okeene, and known as the Renewable Energy …
February 2025 archive
Governor wants Energy Abundance Agenda for Oklahoma
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt not only wants to copy the Trump administration’s creation of a DOGE or government efficiency agency but also wants to make 2025 the year of the Energy Abundance Agenda in the state. In his seventh state of the state address on Monday to the state legislature, he said his goal …
Amarillo coal plant to convert to natural gas
An Xcel Energy coal powerplant in Amarillo is being converted natural gas. The company built the Harrington Station in 1976 and was its first coal-fired power plant in the state. The conversion to natural gas is expected to take place in May of this year. Click here for Amarillo Globe-News
Pollution of the Illinois River
As the state awaits a federal court ruling about chicken litter pollution of the Illinois River, environmentalists recently toured the river in eastern Oklahoma. The civil case involves Tyson Foods, Simmons Foods and Cargill who were sued 20 years ago and accused of knowing the chicken litter from used to fertilize farm fields was …
Oklahoma and New Mexico public lands up for oil and gas lease
The Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office on Monday opened a 30-day public scoping period to receive public input on 21 oil and gas parcels totaling 8,860 acres that may be included in a November 2025 lease sale in New Mexico and Oklahoma. The comment period ends March 3, 2025. The land …
Record warm wx on Monday—but guess what’s around the corner?
Even as records are expected to be broken this week for high temperatures in the state, don’t look now but guess what’s just waiting for us? Yes, colder weather. But enjoy the warm weather this week. State Climatologist Gary McManus took note Monday that the highest temperature ever recorded in the state on a …
Wait for it—-are higher gasoline prices coming?
While waiting for the other shoe to drop when it comes to gasoline prices and tariffs on Mexico and Canada, Oklahoma’s average price is about the same as a week ago, according to AAA Oklahoma. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.68, just a penny more than last week but …
Panasonic plant approaches EV battery manufacturing
Not to rub it in the faces of Oklahoma leaders who failed to land the $5 billion Panasonic plant more than a year ago, but the plant being constructed near Kansas City is close to actual manufacturing of lithium batteries for electric vehicles. Another ribbon cutting type ceremony was held last week at the …
Sen. Lankford says he’s not finished competing for more Federal Transportation grants
Oklahoma received millions of dollars in recent federal transportation grants but U.S. Sen. James Lankford says he’s not finished in trying to get more. “Our nation always has and always will have transportation and infrastructure needs, the challenge is to determine the places of highest need at that moment. I worked with our Oklahoma …
4Q revenues drop at Alliance Resource Partners
Alliance Resource Partners in Tulsa had some disappointing fourth quarter results as total revenue fell nearly 6% compared to a year ago. But growing energy conditions also give optimism at the company’s leadership. The coal-company’s revenue decreased 5.6% to $590.1 million compared to $625.4 million for the 2023 Quarter primarily as a result of …