Crude oil prices dropped Wednesday, hitting a five-month low amidst the growing tensions between the U.S. and China in their tariff dispute over rare earth minerals. Adding to the pressure was the International Energy Agency prediction of a supply surplus in 2026. A forecast from Bank of America also rained on the parade, …
October 15, 2025 archive
Lankford says rare earths fight with China is a “wake-up” call
Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford stands behind President Trump and his latest threats to put an additional 100 percent tariff on products from China in the fight over rare earth minerals. “Yes, we should be playing hardball. We’re the biggest economy in the world,” explained the Republican Senator during a Wednesday morning interview …
Arkansas prepares wind farm rules
Arkansas regulators are in the midst of attempting to create new rules on wind farm development in the state. And one of the issues is one that’s produced some political anxiety at the Oklahoma state capitol—setbacks. The Public Servic Commission in Arkansas started taking public comments on a new law, Act 945 of …
Google makes $600,000 donation to Stillwater school district
Google Donates $600,000 to Stillwater Public Schools for Energy Efficiency Upgrades and Classroom Equipment Stillwater Public Schools announced a $600,000 donation from Google to support local education and energy resilience efforts across the district. The funding includes $500,000 for energy efficiency upgrades throughout school facilities and $100,000 for new classroom equipment for Kindergarten and …
Launch rescheduled for rural Oklahoma broadband expansion in Northeastern Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Broadband Office will officially launch two broadband expansion projects with internet service provider The Junction Internet to improve access to high-speed internet service in Craig and Nowata counties. But the formal ceremony to begin the project won’t be held Friday as originally announced. Instead, it will be a week later, according …
GOP Lawmakers Clash Over Trump’s Energy Cuts
Oklahoma’s Republican delegation in Congress has remained quiet on the Trump administration’s decision to cancel $8 billion in green energy funding. But Republican lawmakers in other states are starting to object, warning that some of the cuts could harm energy innovation and local economies. GOP senators push to save projects The administration’s decision last week …
Energy Brief: U.S. Ethane Exports, Solar Cuts, EV Shifts
U.S. Ethane Exports Projected to Grow Through 2026 The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that ethane exports will expand sharply through 2026. Global demand for ethane as a petrochemical feedstock continues to climb, driven by production in Asia and Europe. The EIA said the growth stems from new U.S. export capacity, larger shipping vessels, …
Google’s Oklahoma projects among billions in data centers
Google’s aggressive expansion into artificial intelligence is reaching new global heights. Just two months after pledging a $9 billion investment in Oklahoma, the tech giant revealed plans to pour $15 billion into India over the next five years. Global investment targets AI and renewable power The new investment will fund what Google calls a “gigawatt-scale …
Concerns Grow Over Water Use by Data Centers in Oklahoma
Oklahomans are increasingly worried about how much water new data centers will consume as artificial intelligence (AI) projects expand nationwide. The concern, voiced recently by Yukon residents, reflects a growing national discussion over balancing technological growth with natural resource sustainability. Yukon residents question future data center water demands At a recent city meeting, …