Updating activity in lithium exploration and mining in south Arkansas, home of the brine-rich Smackover formation, Australia’s Pantera Lithium announced the sale of its Smackover Lithium Project in a $26.1 million deal. The buyer is Energy Exploration Technologies Inc. (EnergyX) of Austin, Texas. Pantera entered the Arkansas lithium rush in late 2023 when it …
Category: Oil & Gas
Confusion over coal-fired plant exemptions in Oklahoma
At least two of the reported seven coal plants cited by some environmental groups as being granted EPA exemptions by the Trump administration no longer use coal. And a third is in the process of abandoning its use. One is the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company plant in Lawton and the other is the …
Loss of refineries expected to send California gasoline prices soaring in coming year
California, where gasoline prices average $4.54 a gallon but some counties have averages as high was $5.81 per gallon could be staring major price hikes in the face as the state is about to lose 17% of its oil refinery capacity in the coming 12 months. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that …
Colorado Attorney General might join challenge of President’s national energy emergency declaration
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser might join a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s January announcement and declaration of a national energy emergency. The consideration comes after the Bureau of Land Management announced last week that under the emergency declaration, it would speed up an environmental review of an oil loading site in Utah so more …
Country’s largest power grid struggles to keep up with electricity demands from data centers
Lest you think our growing reports and observations about the ballooning demand for electricity from increasing data centers is something of a “Boy Cries Wolf,” consider what’s happening to the nation’s largest power grid. PJM Interconnection covers 13 states from Illinois to Tennessee and Virginia to New Jersey but is reported to be under …
Energy briefs
** The Trump administration has tapped a longtime pesticide lobbyist for a top EPA role regulating pesticides, allegedly a key focus of its “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. Kyle Kunkler, who served as director of government affairs at the American Soybean Association (ASA) from 2020 to June 2025, is now serving as the EPA’s top …
Second quarter financial results coming from Vital Energy in early August
Independent energy company, Vital Energy, Inc. plans a release of its second-quarter earnings report early in August. The results will first be released for the Tulsla-based company on Wednesday, August 6, following the close of markets. Company leaders plan a conference call to discuss the results the next morning. The call will begin at …
Crude oil and OK energy stocks made big gains in Tuesday’s trading
The government’s forecast of less U.S. oil production this year and next sent crude oil prices climbing to a two-week high on Tuesday. It also resulted in some rather dramatic gains for some Oklahoma energy stocks. The forecast came from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Along with renewed Houthi attacks on Red Sea …
Energy Secretary makes it official—he’s a candidate for Attorney General
Just as we reported Oklahoma Energy and Environment Secretary Jeff Starling intended to be a candidate for attorney general, he took the formal step in recent days. Starling filed his official candidacy for the Republican nomination with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission on July 1. He became the second candidate for the nomination. The other …
Crude oil prices are expected to keep falling and as a result, so will Oklahoma’s rig counts
Oil and gas exploration firms held on as long as they could before Oklahoma saw any reduction in its weekly rig counts. As we reported this week, the state’s rig numbers fell by 3, based on the Rig Count supplied by Baker Hughes Co. It left 43 others still drilling for more oil and …