** During an internal town hall meeting last week, roughly 40,000 Chevron employees were shown a video touting the oil giant’s success in Colorado as the largest oil and gas producer in the state. Less than 30 minutes later, executives announced plans to cut up to 20% of the global workforce, reported Reuters. ** Experts say the …
Category: Solar Energy in Oklahoma
Legislator promotes moratorium on green energy projects
Rep. Jim Shaw, R-Chandler, has filed a series of bills that range from placing a moratorium on green energy projects to creating setbacks to recapturing tax subsidies from the industry. Another measure would ban the use of biosolids. “I told my constituents when running for office I would fight against the green energy insanity that …
Missouri legislator wants higher taxes on farmland used for solar projects
A legislator in Missouri has proposed tripling the tax assessment on farmland that is leased for wind and solar projects. ““My purpose is not to attack farmers, also, but when you repurpose your land for another purpose outside of agriculture, I think you should pay your fair share in that sense,” said Rep. Danny …
Bill to amend Oklahoma’s Energy Discrimination Act to be considered by House Committee
A move to amend Oklahoma’s 3-year old Energy Discrimination Elimination Act, the one suspended last year by an Oklahoma County District judge’s order, goes before a state House committee on Wednesday. Rep. Nick Archer, Elk City, filed HB2043 which focuses on the contract payments that state agencies have with companies. The bill, if approved, would …
Public hearing on Evergy’s plans for 2 gas plants and a solar farm
The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) will hold a virtual public hearing on March 5 at 6 p.m. to inform Evergy Kansas customers about three proposed energy projects: two gas-fired power plants and a solar facility. One gas plant is planned near Evergy’s Viola Substation in Sumner County, the other near Hutchinson in Reno County, while the …
Energy briefs
** Iowa House lawmakers advance bills that would strengthen eminent domain protections, limit permit lengths and include more involvement of a consumer advocacy office in an effort to clamp down on carbon pipelines. ** The federal Bonneville Power Administration could lose up to 20% of its workforce to the Trump administration’s job cuts and hiring freeze, raising concerns about …
Vote delayed on solar farm in Wagoner County
A vote by Wagoner County Commissioners on a nearly 5,000 solar farm opposed by some residents and landowners was delayed on Monday. The three commissioners had previously delayed a vote whether to approve the Persica Solar Farm proposed by NextEra Energy. They agreed again to put the issue on hold for another 30 days, …
Energy briefs
** President Donald Trump on Tuesday moved to revert to older standards for light bulbs as well as toilets, showers and other water-using appliances, a day after signing an order promoting plastic straws and rescinding a plan to reduce single-use plastics. ** US oil refiners along the Gulf Coast are snubbing shipments from Mexico and …
Energy sector loses more jobs, including Oklahoma
A new jobs report by the Energy Workforce & Technology Council suggests Oklahoma lost nearly 1,600 jobs in the energy services sector in the past few months. The decline of the jobs also reflected an overall downward adjustment of more than 7,300 positions compared to December 2024 across the nation. Based on preliminary data from …
House Energy Committee to consider tighter rules on solar farm operators
A bill putting restrictions and more requirements on commercial solar energy operators in Oklahoma will be considered this week by members of the Oklahoma House Energy Committee. HB1373 by Rep. Brad Boles, Marlow, and Sen. Grant Green, Wellston, would create theCommercial Solar Facility Decommissioning Act. “A person who is harmed by a violation of the …
