Author's posts
How Oklahoma’s Economy is Impacted by What the Ayatollah Says
For those in Oklahoma who want an example of how events half-way across the globe can affect us, consider the latest news from Tehran, Iran. It applies to the lifting of the oil embargo as well as the deal that Boeing, the company with large operations at Tinker Air Force base in Oklahoma City, recently …
Williams Subsidiary Fined $1.6 million over Deadly Louisiana Plant Blast
A Williams Companies subsidiary is facing a $1.6 million fine over the October, 2015 blast that killed four workers at its Louisiana operation. The fine against Transcontinental Pipeline was proposed July 29 by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and accused the firm of failing to include relevant facts when notifying the National Response Center …
Texas Joins North Dakota in Suing EPA over New Methane Gas Emission Rules
The State of Texas has joined North Dakota in filing suit against the Environmental Protection Agency in a challenge of new methane emission rules for the oil and gas industry. In a filing with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, Case #16-1257, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked for a review of the EPA’s final …
State’s Tax Credit Review Commission Meets Wednesday at State Capitol
The special state commission tasked with reviewing the dozens of tax credit programs including those involving wind and oil and gas energy in the state meets again this week. The Incentive Evaluation Commission chaired by Lyle Roggow will meet Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Room 419-C of the Stat Capitol building. The agenda shows there will …
Big Electric Purchase Made in Texas
A deal worth $18.4 billion—it’s the purchase of the financially troubled Energy Future in Texas and its take in Oncor Electricity. Power producer NextEra Energy is making the purchase in a move that will allow Energy Future to emerge from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy it filed in Delaware bankruptcy court. Energy Future is the largest …
Unmanned Systems Alliance Summit to be Held in Norman
The 2016 Unmanned Systems Alliance of Oklahoma summit is set to be held August 8 in Norman. The summit and networking event will include a presentation and panel discussing and exploring the new issues of aviation law and regulations, privacy and security concerns and the federal preemption and state authority over unmanned aerial systems or …
Survey Shows Oklahoma’s Economic Slump is Growing
The latest Mid-American Business Conditions Index released by Creighton University economist Ernie Goss shows his concern for what’s happened to the economy in Oklahoma and several other mid-western states. Figures from his survey of supply managers in Oklahoma and 8 other states dropped again, suggesting either slow or no growth in their economies. His Index …
Will New Government Application Plan Solve Permit Issues in Osage County?
Whether it will result in a speedup of drilling requests in Oklahoma’s Osage County is a question that remains to be seen, but the government says it will adopt plans to reduce delays in permitting oil and gas drilling on federal and Indian lands. Technically, all of Osage County is considered to be under the control …
Historic Low Quarterly Earnings Report at Exxon Mobil
It’s been 17 years since Exxon Mobil Corp has seen a quarterly report as weak as the one it just reported for the second quarter of 2016. The company earned $1.7 billion but the earnings were down 59 percent from a year ago as Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson said the results “reflect a volatile …
Some in Congress Worry about Re-Listing Efforts for Prairie Chicken
Just when some Oklahoma energy producers thought they might not have to deal with federal rules and regulations covering the lesser prairie-chicken, now there’s word the government might re-list the animal under the Endangered Species Act. Oklahoma U.S. Reps. Frank Lucas, Tom Cole and Markwayne Mullin are among 14 who recently wrote U.S. Fish and …