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Energy Task Force to Include Closed-Door Meetings in House-Approved Bill
A bill creating another new energy-related state task force has won approval in the State House but it would also be exempt from the Oklahoma Public Meeting law. House Bill 2151 by Tulsa Rep. Weldon Watson was approved on a 68-20 vote despite opposition from Stillwater Rep. Cory Williams. He argued if state funds …
EPA Leader Pruitt Named in Complaint Filed with Oklahoma Bar Association
If EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt thought his problems over his confirmation hearing were finished, they are not. He has been named in a complaint filed with the Oklahoma Bar Association accusing him of violating the Oklahoma Rule of Professional Conduct. The complaint was filed this week by Kristen van de Biezenbosk, an Associate Professor at …
Senate Committee Approves Nuclear Power Bill with Inhofe’s Support
Keeping you up to date on what the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is doing, it has passed a Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act. Called NEIMA, it improves the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s fee structure and lets it regulate and approve advanced reactor designs. The EPW committee, with the support of Oklahoma U.S. …
Bridenstine Successful in New NASA Funding Law
It wasn’t that we intentionally omitted Rep. Jim Bridenstine from a story this week about a White House signing ceremony for funding of NASA programs. We just weren’t aware of it until his office released an announcement indicating the Tulsa Republican Congressman watched as President trump signed S.442, a measure that included some of …
Spring Storms Set to Develop in Oklahoma—-Could Produce a Tornado Threat for SE
Spring’s here and that means the first severe weather of the season is developing in Oklahoma. David Payne, News 9’s Chief Meteorologist says at least four storms could occur in the next 9 days, bringing rain and of course, the threat of maybe a tornado. “Powerful storm systems are lined up about every three …
Chaparral Energy Exits Bankruptcy Protection
Oklahoma City-based Chaparral Energy announced it has completed its financial restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company’s reorganization plan was recognized and approved by the U.S. District Bankruptcy Court of Delaware on March 10. It allowed conversion of $1.2 billion of pre-petition debt to equity and elimination of nearly $100 million in …
Legislators Want Credit for Funding Education
Maybe Andy Griffith on TV’s Mayberry said it best. “You can change the name of a rose but you can’t do anything about the smell.” Members of the Oklahoma State House apparently don’t think they’re getting enough credit for funding education. They voted this week in support of a bill that opponents called a “slight …
Legislature Votes to Study Oklahoma Corporation Commission
Nearly three weeks after a State House committee okayed a measure creating a task force to study the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the full House has also given approval. House bill 1377 would create a “Twenty-first Century Corporation Commission Task Force.” Approval came on a 91-0 vote meaning even those who questioned the measure in committee …
Another Big Newfield Exploration Well in Kingfisher County
Oklahoma’s STACK has yielded another sizable oil well for Newfield Exploration Mid-con Inc., a well producing more than 1,000 barrels a day. As completion reports shown by OK Energy Today indicate, the Apache well located about 4 miles southeast of Kingfisher was drilled and completed last year. The filing of the report by the Houston, …
State House Votes to Continue Aerospace Tax Credit
While the Oklahoma legislature has voted to strip the wind industry of tax credits it bestowed on wind farms several years ago, the State House has okayed continuation of a $5,000 tax credit for aerospace engineers. House Bill 1839 by Rep. Leslie Osborn (R-OKC) would cost the tax $7 million but she argued during House …