Crude oil prices rose nearly 3% on Tuesday with oil in the U.S. going up to more than $96 and Brent crude, the global benchmark, settling at more than $103 a barrel. Gasoline prices in the U.S. continued their slow climb to reach an average of $3.79 as U.S. and Israeli warplanes pounded Iran …
March 17, 2026 archive
Cherokee Nation studies impact of data centers
The Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma has launched a study into data centers as principal chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. ordered in recent weeks. In signing an executive order to create the nine-member Task Force on Data Centers, he said, “Hard questions should be asked, and answers and transparency are key.” Chief Hoskin called it “critical …
Hundreds of wells illegally operating in Oklahoma?
A journalist who spent the past few years making public records requests of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission says he found a state-funded study revealed nearly 600 wells operating illegally in the state, but regulators did nothing about the problem. Writing for The Frontier and ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network, author Nick Bowlin the report entitled …
Trimmed field of Corporation Commission candidates
Who’s left so far as candidates? Ray’s decision leaves two candidates who have filed with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission and created campaign committees and accepted campaign contributions. They are State Sen. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, and Justin Hornback of Broken Arrow. Campaign contribution reports on file with the Ethics Commission show Sen. Boles with …
Permian basin produced 44% of nation’s oil in December
EIA refines estimates for Permian tight oil and shale gas production A change in the way the U.S. measures oil and gas production in the Permian Basin, the most prolific shale area in the country, shows production was still incredibly rich and high. A new update from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed the Basin …
Bill authorizing Arkansas River Bridge passes House
Days after he announced his candidacy for the First Congressional District in Tulsa, Rep. Mark Tedford of Jenks is also celebrating state House approval of his proposed new bridge across the Arkansas River near Bixby. His House Bill 2123 passed the House on a vote of 84-3 and now moves to the Senate for further …
Energy briefs
** The United Arab Emirates’ daily oil output is down by more than half as the Iran conflict and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz forced state oil giant ADNOC to implement widespread production shut-ins, two sources told Reuters. ** Iran has asked India to release three tankers seized in February as part of …
Proposed data center leads to lawsuit in Missouri
The fight against a proposed $150 billion data center in Independence, Missouri led to the recent filing of a lawsuit by citizens who object to the city’s recent approval of tax breaks for the project. Three residents who belong to a grassroots watchdog group fighting the data center proposed by Nebius, a Dutch company, went …
FERC approves SPP grid planning overhaul
FERC Approves SPP Planning Overhaul Aimed at Cutting Costs, Boosting Grid Reliability The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) signed off on a landmark initiative by Southwest Power Pool (SPP) to revolutionize its generator interconnection (GI) and long-term planning processes, a move that could save hundreds of millions of dollars. SPP’s Consolidated Planning Process (CPP) — …





