Author's posts
Consumers Charge State Supreme Court was ‘Tainted’ Over Bribed Rate Hike Case
Another filing has been made in the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the consumer fight to force a $16 billion refund from ATT over a 1989 bribed vote by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Oklahomans Against Bribery made the filing stating that the bribery and misconduct by attorneys and executives for Southwestern Bell, before it was taken …
Little Movement Seen in Sierra Club Earthquake Lawsuit Against 4 Oklahoma Energy Companies
In just about two weeks, it will be a year since the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit accusing three Oklahoma energy companies of causing earthquakes in the state. With the help of the Washington, D-C based group Public Justice, the Sierra Club accused New Dominion, Chesapeake Operating and Devon Energy Production Company of causing the …
More Plaintiffs Join Class-Action Lawsuit Alleging Bid-Rigging Against Chesapeake and SandRidge Energy Companies
In the nearly eleven months since a class-action bid-rigging lawsuit was filed against Chesapeake Energy and SandRidge Energy, oilman Tom Ward and others, the number of plaintiffs has grown from one to 19. A check of the lawsuit originally filed by Brian Thieme, a Colorado resident who is also a land-owner in northwest Oklahoma, showed …
Environmentalists Building Bank Accounts to Wage War with Trump White House
While President Trump and some of his cabinet nominees have vowed to dismantle some of the environmental policies of former President Barack Obama, environmental groups have been busy building their bank accounts to do battle with the White House. OK Energy Today has reported on the efforts of the national Sierra Club to raise more …
FERC Will be Unable to Convene after Bay’s Departure on Friday
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission member Norman Bay has only a few days before his resignation is effective. He announced he would resign Feb. 3 after President Donald trump demoted him from being chairman and named Cheryl LaFleur to be an acting chair. His departure will leave just two members after that date. It also means …
Legislator Proposes Plan to Replace Oklahoma Reliance on Energy Sector Taxes
Among the more than 2,000 bills filed for the 2017 session of the Oklahoma legislature is HB 1401, a measure by Rep. John Michael Montgomery to end the state’s reliance on income tax and energy sector taxes. “As I talk with constituents and fellow Oklahomans, it is clear that they want a long-term vision and …
Legislator Proposes 5-cent a barrel fee to receive Out-Of-State Wastewater for Oklahoma Injection Wells
A Democratic lawmaker from Chickasha is proposing a nickel-a-barrel fee on liquids dumped into any injection or wastewater disposal well in the state. Rep. David Perryman’s HB 1330 would also require operators of commercial disposal wells to maintain logs of all loads of “deleterious” substances disposed at the wells. The logs would also have to …
Rig Counts Continue to Grow in Oklahoma and the U.S.
For a second straight week, rig counts in Oklahoma and across the U.S. increased significantly with Oklahoma adding 5 rigs while the national count grew by 18. Oklahoma’s now up to 96 working rigs. That compares to the 88 rigs reported one year ago at this time, according to Houston-based Baker Hughes Co. The U.S. …
Oklahoma’s STACK Sees More Production and Exploration
Oil and gas exploration is swelling in Oklahoma’s STACK play, witnessed by the latest filings for drilling permits issued at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and published at OK Energy Today. At least ten permits to drill were issued alone for Kingfisher County in the heart of the STACK. Nine out of the ten permits were …
Governor Names Two to State Water Board
Two appointments have been made by Gov. Mary Fallin to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. They are Charles ‘Chuck’ Darby of Broken Bow and Rob Stallings of Enid. Both have to still be confirmed by the State Senate when it convenes this year. The governor indicated she will soon fill a third vacancy from the …