March 2025 archive

Bipartisan bill wants to expand tribal energy access

  Indian tribes in Oklahoma and others across the U.S. would have greater tribal access to federal energy programs under a bill filed by U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and John Curtis (R-Utah). They filed the Tribal Energy Fairness Act which seeks to address barriers and streamline technical processes in existing Department of Energy (DOE) …

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Oklahoma regulators to hold special meeting Monday morning

  Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners plan a special Monday morning meeting to address opposition to a complicated Public Service Company of Oklahoma rate matter. Commissioners, in their 9:30 a.m. meeting will delve into PSO’s application PUD2024-000032 to address a Private Letter Ruling from the IRS that was part of the company’s original request for a Net …

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Empire Petroleum releases 2024 financial results

  Empire Petroleum is out with its fourth quarter and 2024 full year financial reports showing total production revenue of $44 million for the year and a net loss of $16.2 million or 54 cents a share. It was still an improvement over 2023 results when the company had a net loss of $12.5 million, …

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Future of 117-year old Overholser Dam to be discussed

  The public is invited to learn about rehabilitation plans for one of Oklahoma City’s most iconic water structures, the Overholser Dam, during a town hall meeting on Tuesday, April 22, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at The Fellowship at Western Oaks, 7901 NW 16th Street, and is being hosted …

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Lindsay the site of the latest launching of a broadband expansion project

  Construction is officially underway on rural broadband expansion projects funded through the second round of grants administered by the Oklahoma Broadband Office (OBO).  On Friday, the OBO and Pioneer Telephone Cooperative launched construction on the first two projects funded through the American Rescue Plan Act Capital Projects Fund (ARPA-CPF). The projects totaling some $878,000 …

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Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen…nothing’s dead in the legislature

  In this episode of Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen, we dispel the notion that legislation ever truly ever ‘dies’ and why reporters keep making that erroneous statement. Plus more on the latest ‘deadline’ week.

Latest Corporation Commission private meeting

  Two Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners met privately last week in an exempt discussion, according to the latest Open Meeting Act Exempt Event filed with the agency. Commissioners Todd Hiett and Brian Bingman met for 15 minutes on March 25, according to the form filed March 27. Hiett’s legal advisor, Nicole King made the filing that …

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Attorney General “baffled” over ouster of state Forester

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who is a candidate for Governor, has waded into the Governor’s recent dismissal of Oklahoma Forestry Services Director Mark Goeller following the March deadly wildfires that burned tens of thousands of acres. “It should be inconceivable to think that the courage, skill and herculean work of firefighters across the state …

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Bill to ban sewage sludge as fertilizer wins Oklahoma Senate approval

  Sen. Grant Green, R-Wellston, successfully advanced a statewide ban on the use of sewage sludge and biosolid materials as fertilizer through the state Senate this week. Senate Bill 3 requires individuals or organizations authorized to use sludge or biosolid materials to gradually decrease their land application of the product each year until a statewide prohibition …

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U.S. oil and gas rig numbers remain constant

  The U.S. oil and gas rig activity held mostly steady over the past week as the latest Baker Hughes Rig Count showed a decline of only one rig, leaving a total of 592 active through the country. Oklahoma held steady at 53 rigs, 9 more than the 44 rigs reported one year ago. The …

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