** The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to end Energy Star, a program whose iconic blue labels have certified the energy efficiency of home appliances for more than three decades, as part of its broader reorganization, two sources briefed on the reorganization told Reuters. ** House Speaker Mike Johnson says the $7,500 federal EV tax …
Category: EPA
Energy briefs
** The Trump administration considers selling oil and gas leases in the Arctic Ocean more than 200 miles offshore, but experts say the industry may not be interested due to resource and legal uncertainty. ** North Dakota lawmakers advance a proposal that could offer up to $500 million in subsidies to support the development of …
EPA Regional Administration says agency has helped Oklahomans in Trump Administration
Oklahoman Scott Mason, named the Region 6 Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency marked the first 100 days of the Trump Administration with a letter highlighting some of the agency’s efforts in Oklahoma. Mason was appointed by President Trump to be the regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s South Central Region. This …
Despite improved net sales for LSB’s first quarter, it recorded losses too
The tariff war hasn’t hurt LSB Industries, Inc. so far, according to Mark Behrman, LSB Industries’ Chairman & Chief Executive Officer as he reported improved first quarter net sales. The Oklahoma City fertilizer manufacturing firm’s net sales were $143.4 million, improved from the $138.2 million in the first quarter of 2024. But LSB still …
Energy briefs
** A Utah couple living in a 27,000 square foot mansion have been arrested on federal charges of running a $300 million money-laundering scheme and allegedly smuggling crude oil from Mexico. ** U.S. President Donald Trump said all purchases of Iranian oil or petrochemical products must stop and any country or person buying any from …
US Senate votes to reverse Biden-era EPA rule
When Utah U.S. Sen. John Curtis celebrated his first piece of legislation passing in the Senate, he had the support of Oklahoma Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin. They voted in support of the Curtis resolution to overturn a Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency Rule. The final vote was 52-46 to undo the 2024 rule …
US House rejects California’s EV mandates—Oklahomans helped with approval
Oklahoma’s delegation in the U.S. House feels the Biden administration’s EPA and the state of California went too far in their anti-gasoline vehicle mandates. At least, that’s what they showed in their vote against the plan. All five members, Stephanie Bice, Josh Brecheen, Tom Cole, Kevin Hern and Frank Lucas were in the majority …
Energy briefs
** Crews rush to contain an oil spill in Louisiana marshes that’s already released more than 23,000 gallons of crude oil, although the exact amount remains unknown. ** Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy asserted on Wednesday that “people will lose their lives” unless the United States invests in a new air traffic control system. He aised extreme concerns …
Environmental group claims New Mexico is doing little to handle 300 oil and gas spills in 3-month period
The environmental organization named WildEarth Guardians is out with a critical report about New Mexico’s “ongoing failure to manage” the oil and gas industry’s “mounting toxic waste crisis.” In its inaugural Oil & Gas Waste Watch quarterly report, the group claimed there were 307 oil and gas spills, or an average of one spill every …
Energy briefs
** Vaquero Midstream, a natural gas gathering and processing midstream company operating in the Delaware Basin, announced plans for two major system expansion projects – a new 70-mile 24-inch high-pressure pipeline loop and a 200 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) cryogenic processing plant to increase Vaquero’s gathering capabilities from the state line area down …