Refineries fighting mandated ethanol blending levels might have some good news according to one report that suggests the Biden administration is considering lowering the 2022 levels below the 15 billion gallons. Reuters says the consideration comes amid backlash from the oil refining lobby and unions arguing the shrinking U.S. ethanol industry can no longer …
Category: General
Illinois court vacates approval of Dakota Access pipeline capacity expansion
A decision by the Illinois Commerce Commission to expand operation of Energy Transfer’s Dakota Access oil pipeline was rejected this week by an Illinois appellate court. Energy Transfer wants to expand the capacity up to 1.1 million barrels a day from its current ability of 570,000 barrels a day. Click here for Reuters.
Energy costs soared in the U.S. in the past year
The country’s inflation rate just hit 7% and it means Oklahomans and others throughout the country are paying far more for their energy as well as food and housing. The latest Consumer Price Index report from the U.S. Department of Labor said all costs rose 7% for the 12 months ending December. It represented …
US crude settles above $82
A two-month high was hit by U.S. crude prices in Wednesday’s trading as West Texas Intermediate crude settled above the $82 level. It also sent up some Oklahoma energy stocks. WTI for February delivery went up $1.42 to $82.64 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for March delivery rose 95 …
EIA forecasts crude oil prices will fall in 2022 and 2023
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, January 202 While oil prices are soaring and U.S. prices are above the $80 level, the federal government predicts they won’t hold throughout this year and next. The U.S. Energy Information Administration came out with a prediction on Wednesday that prices will fall from the 2021 levels. The prediction …
Biden Administration Takes Action on Toxic Coal Ash Waste
In a move that did not yet directly affect any coal ash facilities in Oklahoma due to coal-fired power plants, the Biden administration took what was considered a first significant move this week in addressing widespread problems with the toxic ash from others around the nation. The administration plans action on 9 of 57 …
Legislator who opposed winter storm rate hikes removed as Energy leader
A Kansas legislator was yanked as chairman of a House Energy Committee after sending a letter urging Kansas regulators delay utility rate increases over the February winter storm. The Kansas Reflector reported Rep. Joe Seiwert, a Republican from Pretty Prairie is no longer chairman. Click here for Kansas Reflector.
Wind turbine setbacks adopted by regulators in Hutchinson, Kansas
It took nearly a year and a half of debate before county regulators in Hutchinson, Kansas adopted new regulations on the development of commercial wind turbines in Reno County. The Hutchinson News reports the new regulations include a 2,000 foot setback for wind turbines from homes. Click here for Hutchinson News.
Other energy news stories
** The Environmental Protection Agency is taking its first major action to address toxic wastewater from coal-burning power plants, ordering utilities to stop dumping waste into unlined storage ponds and speed up plans to close leaking or otherwise dangerous coal ash sites. ** The US government spent $1.1 billion on carbon capture projects that mostly failed. ** U.S. …
Halliburton and others to form Texas Geothermal Alliance
A geothermal energy group that has the backing of Halliburton, Baker Hughes, CenterPoint Energy and others will be launched Thursday in Texas. The Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance will be used to help Halliburton and others transition to low-carbon energy from oil and gas reported Reuters. Click here for Reuters.