February 2026 archive

Bill targeting data centers wins subcommittee approval

Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, passed HB 3917 unanimously out of the Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources Subcommittee. The measure requires data centers to pay a surcharge during peak demand periods, protecting residential customers from rate hikes and funding grid modernization. “I want to thank the Committee Chair and Committee for hearing and passing this legislation,” said …

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Oklahoma regulators to review battery storage project at Ponca City

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday and one of the issues to be considered is a proposed battery storage system near Ponca City. Frontier Energy Storage’s project, proposed by Oklahoma Gas and Electric company in its power generation expansion plans has already been opposed by the Attorney General and the Petroleum …

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New Mexico environment leader in “mourning” over repeal of EPA rule

While many Oklahoma energy leaders are praising the President’s move last week to repeal the EPA “endangerment finding”, one created in 2009 by the Obama administration, such is not the case in New Mexico where one leader said it is a “moment to mourn.” The state also relies heavily on oil and gas revenues for …

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Coal group praises President’s reversal of EPA rule

  One organization that hailed President Trump’s decision last week to repeal the EPA’s Endangerment Finding is America’s Power, a group that advocates for coal use. The group’s President and CEO Michelle Bloodworth praised the repeal of the 2009 declaration which she said became a justification for some of the Environmental Protection Agency’s most far …

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Petroleum Alliance—returning EPA to “common-sense” policies

  Simmons: EPA’s repeal of the Endangerment Finding returns agency to common-sense policies When President Trump announced last week his decision to repeal the Environmental Protection Agency’s so-called “endangerment finding” it was a move that was welcomed with wide open arms at the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma. So much so that President Brook A. Simmons …

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Wildfire chances to grow this week in Northwest Oklahoma

    Northwest Oklahoma wildfire chances increase this week The latest wildfire update from the Oklahoma Forestry Division indicated growing chances of more wildfires in the northwest part of the state. Statewide Discussion: Rainfall Friday/Saturday provided wetting rainfall across most of the southern half of Oklahoma as well as the northern tier of counties tempering …

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Road conditions worsen in Oklahoma according to new report

A report by Consumer Affairs shows Oklahoma’s roads and highways actually were in worse condition from 2025-to-2026 than they were a year ago. New Mexico is categorized as having the “worst roads” while Oklahoma is fifth worst in the country. The report stated Oklahoma fell from No. 34 in the 2025 analysis and “conditions worsened …

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Record high use of natural gas predicted this year and next

U.S. natural gas production to reach record highs in 2026 and 2027 The U.S. Energy Information Administration is out with a forecast that U.S. natural gas marketed production will increase by 2% to average 120.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2026 and then further increase to a record-high 122.3 Bcf/d in 2027. The prediction …

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No letup in drilling activity in western Oklahoma

  The latest Baker Hughes Rig Count indicated a decline of one rig in Oklahoma but its numbers also indicated no change in the drilling activity in the state’s Anadarko Basin. The Cana Woodford, according to Baker Hughes, saw no change with 22 rigs. The Granite Wash also remained at 13, same as a week …

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Colorado bill would require renewable energy for new data centers

  As developers eye Colorado for a wave of new data centers to power the AI boom, a new bill backed by environmental and consumer groups aims to shield residents from the impacts of the massive, energy-hungry facilities. The legislation was introduced on Wednesday by state Sen. Cathy Kipp, a Democrat representing Fort Collins, and state …

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