A move by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to agree to a truce with Russia about the Black Sea and energy infrastructure sent crude oil prices falling on Tuesday. The decline came despite oil price support following the announced sanctions by President Trump against countries that buy Venezuelan oil. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 23 …
March 25, 2025 archive
No letup in energy consumption by US manufacturers
A new government study shows that energy consumption by the U.S. manufacturing sector not only continues to increase but its largest fuel use is natural gas. The study by the U.S. Energy Information administration, the Manufacturing Energy Consumption Surveys shows the third consecutive increase in energy consumed in the manufacturing sector since a low point …
Texas legislators want oil and gas industry to pay for road damage
A couple of legislators in West Texas say it’s time the oil and gas industry help pay for the damage to roads and bridges in the oil-producing counties. Their plan is to divert 10% of the nearly $8 billion that oil and gas companies pay in severance taxes to benefit the same counties that …
OGE rate hike requests to be considered by regulators
More utility rate cases will be heard this week before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and in both, it likely means higher bills for consumers. Both will apply to Oklahoma Gas and Electric as an Administrative Law Judge holds a Thursday morning (10 a.m.) hearing on the merits about the utility’s application of the Fuel …
Wildfire smoke created unhealthy air in eastern Oklahoma
Despite the numerous wildfires in Oklahoma over the past few weeks, nearly half of the state has healthy air according to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. But other sections remain affected by smoke from the fires. Three counties in eastern Oklahoma were put until a health advisory on Tuesday because of fine particulate …
South Central Oklahoma site of next broadband expansion project
Another of Oklahoma’s broadband expansion projects financed through federal funding will be launched this week to serve Garvin and Jefferson counties. The projects will be launched with internet service provider Pioneer Telephone Cooperative during a Friday morning ceremony in Lindsay. Event Details: What: Launch event for OBO/Pioneer high-speed internet expansion projects When: 11:00 a.m., …
Coalition says bigger trucks will increase bridge dangers in Oklahoma
A study by the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks has a warning for Congress…don’t approve legislation to increase the maximum truck weight or length limits on federal highways. It says such a move would create more bridge dangers in Oklahoma and virtually every other state in the country. In a letter to members of Congress, …
What Corporation Commissioners discussed in their latest non-public meeting
Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners, in their latest non-public meeting, continued discussions with staff about the potential impact of several bills under consideration in the Oklahoma legislature. Filed Monday by Jeff Kline, Legal Advisor to Commission Chairman Kim David, the Open Meeting Act Exempt Event Compliance Form showed all three commissioners met privately with staff on …
Anticipated rainfall to help with wildfires in Oklahoma
Anticipated rainfall in some areas of Oklahoma this week gives hope for fewer disastrous wildfires like those of the past two weeks which burned hundreds of homes, left four persons dead and darkened tens of thousands of acres of land. The latest wildfire update from the Oklahoma Forestry Services office indicated the fire danger …
Energy briefs
** A coal mine in southwestern Wyoming lays off 28 workers, citing a lagging market and competition with natural gas generation. ** California officials say the 178,549 public and shared private electric vehicle chargers in the state now outnumber gasoline pumps. ** A Massachusetts vehicle-to-everything pilot program will pay EV owners to let utilities tap …