(Robert Daniel, director of regulatory affairs for Kansas and Arkansas at Black Hills Energy, testifies June 30, 2025, before the Kansas Corporation Commission. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector) More than 120,000 customers of a Kansas natural gas supplier are facing a nearly 9% hike in their monthly gas bills. Black Hills Energy wants to increase the …
July 2025 archive
Proposed giant AI center in Amarillo wastes no time and secures big natural gas source for power
The people behind a massive artificial intelligence campus proposed at Amarillo, Texas wasted no time. Days after announcing plans for the 5,800 acre project, officials with Fermi America, co-founded by former Texas Governor and Energy Secretary Rick Perry, said it had already secured more than 600 megawatts of natural gas generation capacity. The …
NextEra scores solar farm victory in Kansas
While NextEra Energy Resources is challenging the decline of approval for a solar farm in northeast Oklahoma’s Wagoner Country, it won a court fight over another solar farm proposed in northeast Kansas. Four landowners and the city of Rossville sued in a move to stop NextEra’s proposed 500-megawatt Jeffrey Solar project in Jackson …
Energy workforce numbers decline
The number of energy jobs in Oklahoma declined again, according to the latest report from the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. The Council, in its June 2025 jobs report showed a modest dip in employment within the energy services sector amid what it described as “continued economic uncertainty. The report showed Oklahoma’s energy workforce …
SCAM alert by PSO
PSO is reminding the public and its customers across Oklahoma to remain vigilant against ongoing scam attempts. Recent reports indicate that individuals posing as utility representatives are demanding immediate payment for services, specifically targeting residents and businesses in PSO service areas. PSO issued a reminder that: • PSO will never call customers demanding immediate …
Interim studies to include wind and solar setbacks
Some energy issues, including eminent domain use and setbacks for wind and solar farms, are among some of the topics to be reviewed in interim studies in the Oklahoma Senate. Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, has approved a series of interim study requests that will be considered during the Oklahoma Senate’s interim …
Survey finds uncertain times in Texas oil patch
A new Dallas Fed survey finds growing uncertainty in the Texas oil patch. Plus, it found a slight decline in oil and gas production in the state. The business outlook in the U.S.’ largest oil and gas patch has “deteriorated,” according to a new Dallas Fed survey of producers and oilfield service (OFS) …
Energy briefs
**The Environmental Protection Agency has placed roughly 140 employees on administrative leave days after they signed a public letter expressing concern about the treatment of federal employees and the Trump administration’s regulations on climate and public health. ** The arbitrators in a legal dispute between Exxon Mobil and Hess have reached a decision related to a major …
More oil and gas rig losses reported in US and Oklahoma
Just as the nation’s number of active oil and gas rigs has been declining over the past few months, Oklahoma is joining the movement. The nation’s count dropped by 8 to 539 rigs. The latest Baker Hughes rig count, released on Thursday, showed the number of active rigs pursuing new oil and gas resources …
Appeals Court upholds ruling against widow of gas rig worker killed 9 years ago
A widow’s challenge of a Coal County District Judge’s decision in the Dec.. 18, 2014 natural gas rig fire and explosion that killed three men lost her appeal to the Oklahoma State Court of Civil Appeals. In a ruling by Judges Jane P. Wiseman, John F. Fische and Gregory C. Blackwell, the judges …