Crude oil prices closed higher on Friday but remained constant over the long Memorial Day holiday in the U.S. The gains came as OPEC+ and its eight members plan to begin meeting on May 31 to consider an increase in oil production. The meeting is a day earlier than originally planned and the …
May 2025 archive
Energy briefs
** A research team based at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory says that solar could have the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of all energy sources in South Korea by the early to mid-2030s. ** In a groundbreaking move to bolster domestic critical mineral production, the U.S. Department of the Interior has greenlit the Velvet-Wood uranium …
What will come out of Texas legislative efforts to restrict renewable energy?
In the final weeks of the Texas legislature’s session, the fight remains underway against renewable energy including expansion of wind farms and solar farms. Others in the legislature have made attempts to protect the state’s historic legend as an oil and gas state. As The Hill reported, Texas has turned into what it described …
Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen—what might convince regulators to approve a PSO request
Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen and they discuss what might prompt Corporation Commissioners to approve a Public Service Company of Oklahoma request that will result in higher rates for its customers. Is a new $4 billion aluminum smeltering plant swaying the minds of commissioners? Scott Mitchell and Jerry Bohnen explore the issue. …
Unplugged—California’s EV mandate
California’s EV mandate that spread across the West Coast and into some East Coast states was just unplugged this week by the U.S. Senate and Oklahoma Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mulling helped pull the plug on the green energy effort pushed by the Biden administration. Lankford and Mullin were among those who …
OPEC+ production talk sent crude oil prices down on Thursday
Word that OPEC+ might consider increasing oil production at its meeting in June sent crude oil prices falling on Thursday. It raised worries that the global supply might be far more than demand. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, are discussing whether to make another …
Waiting for final vote on Global Emirates Aluminium plant incentive package
The headline in the monthly Tulsa Ports report declared in bold letters, “Welcome Emirates Global Aluminium–shaping Inola’s Future with Opportunity.” “We’re thrilled to welcome Emirates Global Aluminium, the world’s largest producer of premium aluminium, to the Tulsa Port of Inola as they move forward with plans to develop the first new primary aluminium production …
Regional manufacturing dipped this month says KC Federal Reserve Bank
The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank reports manufacturing in its Tenth District, which includes Oklahoma, dipped this month. Megan Williams, associate economist and survey manager said the May Manufacturing Survey showed manufacturing activity “contracted slightly” but expectations for future activity remained “somewhat positive.” “Regional factory activity continued to decline in May, and raw materials …
Williams Cos. moves forward with expansion of natural gas storage sites
With an increased demand for natural gas in the U.S., Williams Cos. realizes there must also be increased storage capacity of natural gas. That’s why the Tulsa company is in the process of expanding its storage capabilities in underground salt caverns. Williams CEO Alan Armstrong recently noted that storage is critical to keep up …
Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen…a $4 billion plant and implications with regulators
The back story of the $4 billion Inola aluminum smeltering plant deal and Corporation Commissioners face “fish or cut bait” time over a controversial PSO request. They’re the latest topics of Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen. Their talk focuses on a PSO request and how a decision is connected to the plant.




