At least two of the reported seven coal plants cited by some environmental groups as being granted EPA exemptions by the Trump administration no longer use coal. And a third is in the process of abandoning its use. One is the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company plant in Lawton and the other is the …
July 2025 archive
Loss of refineries expected to send California gasoline prices soaring in coming year
California, where gasoline prices average $4.54 a gallon but some counties have averages as high was $5.81 per gallon could be staring major price hikes in the face as the state is about to lose 17% of its oil refinery capacity in the coming 12 months. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that …
Colorado Attorney General might join challenge of President’s national energy emergency declaration
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser might join a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s January announcement and declaration of a national energy emergency. The consideration comes after the Bureau of Land Management announced last week that under the emergency declaration, it would speed up an environmental review of an oil loading site in Utah so more …
Country’s largest power grid struggles to keep up with electricity demands from data centers
Lest you think our growing reports and observations about the ballooning demand for electricity from increasing data centers is something of a “Boy Cries Wolf,” consider what’s happening to the nation’s largest power grid. PJM Interconnection covers 13 states from Illinois to Tennessee and Virginia to New Jersey but is reported to be under …
Energy briefs
** The Trump administration has tapped a longtime pesticide lobbyist for a top EPA role regulating pesticides, allegedly a key focus of its “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. Kyle Kunkler, who served as director of government affairs at the American Soybean Association (ASA) from 2020 to June 2025, is now serving as the EPA’s top …
Sen. Mullin touts Trump bill in improving FAA in OKC and elsewhere
Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin says one major contribution of the President’s One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law last week is the modernization of the air traffic control industry. After all, its Air Traffic Control academy is located in Oklahoma City and some of the $12.5 billion bill is going to the …
OKC experiences increased water main breaks
In a typical year, the Oklahoma City Utilities Department anticipates 600 to 800 emergency water main breaks across its roughly 4,300-mile network of water lines. In fiscal year (FY) 2023, there were 591 emergency breaks repaired and 621 in FY 2024. At the end of FY 2025, which closed on June 30, there were …
Second quarter financial results coming from Vital Energy in early August
Independent energy company, Vital Energy, Inc. plans a release of its second-quarter earnings report early in August. The results will first be released for the Tulsla-based company on Wednesday, August 6, following the close of markets. Company leaders plan a conference call to discuss the results the next morning. The call will begin at …
Crude oil and OK energy stocks made big gains in Tuesday’s trading
The government’s forecast of less U.S. oil production this year and next sent crude oil prices climbing to a two-week high on Tuesday. It also resulted in some rather dramatic gains for some Oklahoma energy stocks. The forecast came from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Along with renewed Houthi attacks on Red Sea …
A hot summer? What hot summer?
Look at that map. Beautiful sight, isn’t it? No consecutive days of 100 degree weather so far this summer in Oklahoma. Ha ha…..laughing in the face of mother nature. You would expect Gary McManus, State Climatologist with the Oklahoma Mesonet to do just that. “I’m sorry (not really), but this is no way to …
