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House to Consider Elimination of Wind Tax Credit Bills
“They knew this day was coming.” The effort of some critics in the legislature to eliminate or trim the wind industry tax credits will go before a House committee next week. Two such bills have been reassigned to the House Appropriations Committee. One of the measures, HB 2246, by Rep. David Brumbaugh start trimming …
Burn Bans Still in Effect in 7 Counties—-It’s Still Dry!
Seven counties in the state still have burn bans in effect despite the rainfall earlier in the week. “Yep, just as predicted…the rain didn’t exactly tamp down on the fire danger,” wrote Gary McManus, State Climatologist with the Oklahoma Mesonet. “It helped in some ways, but as we’ve explained before, the cool season fire danger …
Earth and Water Group Establishes OKC Offices
An environmental group is establishing offices in Oklahoma City but it’s not the kind of environmental group you think it is. Don’t consider it an environmental group that battles energy groups. The Earth and Water Group, a full-service virtual environmental solutions provider based in Washington, D.C. also named Mary Ellen Ternes as a Partner of …
Teens Appeal Colorado Court Ruling on Oil and Gas Drilling
The Colorado Court of Appeals heard arguments this week from six teenagers who have filed suit to restrict oil and gas development in the state. Attorneys for the youths claimed the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s practice of weighing economic benefit against health and environmental impacts of drilling is a violation of state law. …
Tronox Announces $1.67 Billion Dollar Expansion Purchase
A $1.67 billion purchase of Saudi Arabia-based Cristal by Tronox Ltd will create the world’s largest producer of titanium dioxide. It means the combined company, a 2005 spinoff from Oklahoma City-based Kerr McGee Corp., will operate eleven plants in eight countries and have a total of total capacity of 1.3 million metric tons a year. …
Union Leaders Nervous About Pruitt’s Takeover at EPA
(John O’Grady) Leaders of federal workers unions weren’t impressed by Scott Pruitt’s first address on Tuesday to employees of the Environmental Protection Agency. They suggested there were unanswered questions left following Pruitt’s remarks. “He didn’t say we’re not going to shrink the agency,” said Joe Edgell, senior vice president for National Treasury Employees Union …
Pruitt Asked to Reverse Obama Administration Decision on Vehicle Emissions Standards
In his first days on the job, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has been hit with a request from automakers to reverse the decision by the Obama administration to lock in vehicle emissions standards through the next 8 years. Making the request was the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. The group wants Pruitt to reopen an official …
EPA Employees Wonder About Pruitt’s Leadership
Scott Pruitt will have to wait and learn how his leadership and actions as the new Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency are received by the thousands of EPA employees. He addressed them for the first time on Tuesday and environmentalists suggested he attempted to offer them an ‘olive branch.’ As E and E reported, …
Turnpike Fees to Go Up 12% on March 1st
Get ready to shell out more money to take a drive down any of the Oklahoma turnpikes. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s move to increase fees takes effect March 1 as the rates go up 12 percent. It means a drive from Oklahoma City to Tulsa will go from $4 to $4.50. Pikepass users will see …
Pruitt Addresses EPA With Message of Being Open and Working With States
In his first address to the thousands of people who work for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, new Administrator Scott Pruitt delivered a message of what he expects of them. Smiling and holding an EPA baseball cap given to him during his introduction to workers gathered at EPA headquarters, Pruitt again stressed the ‘rule …