With an increased demand for natural gas in the U.S., Williams Cos. realizes there must also be increased storage capacity of natural gas. That’s why the Tulsa company is in the process of expanding its storage capabilities in underground salt caverns. Williams CEO Alan Armstrong recently noted that storage is critical to keep up …
Category: General
Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen…a $4 billion plant and implications with regulators
The back story of the $4 billion Inola aluminum smeltering plant deal and Corporation Commissioners face “fish or cut bait” time over a controversial PSO request. They’re the latest topics of Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen. Their talk focuses on a PSO request and how a decision is connected to the plant.
Legislator accuses Senate leader of ‘betrayal’ over wind setback bill
“A betrayal of Oklahoma’s rural communities.” It’s what Chandler Rep. Jim Shaw has accused Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton of over the death of the so-called wind setback bill, SB2. He’s angry over the failure of the Senate to take up the bill he supported as part of his anti-wind stance. Shaw said the …
Anti-wind feelings run high in one county
The growing movement against further expansion of wind generation projects in Oklahoma can be an emotional argument—sometimes, pitting friend against friend, neighbor against neighbor and leading to bitter arguments. But this movement isn’t just in Oklahoma. Take for instance the state of Wyoming where projects that will eventually spread over more than 180,000 acres …
Rep. Bice says the one big beautiful bill passed in House will restore US energy dominance
In voting early Thursday morning to help pass President Trump’s One Big Beautiful tax bill, Oklahoma Congresswoman Stephanie Bice praised the measure for what it will do for America’s energy industry. “Restore America’s Energy Dominance- Empower American energy producers; dismantle burdensome Green New Deal regulations; reform the permitting process; and boost our energy security,” …
$210 million water improvement project planned in Stillwater
Stillwater city leaders unveiled a $210 million dollar water improvement plan this week and indicated they hope to begin construction on a new water line sometime in a year. The project includes expansion of a water treatment plant and the construction of a 7-mile pipeline to nearby Lake McMurtry. According to a report …
Rep. Tom Cole fights to spare water research center from EPA budget cuts
Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole is among those who feels the budget of the Environmental Protection Agency is bloated. At the same time, the Republican Representative who carries weight as chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee is fighting to save some of the EPA funding for Oklahoma projects from being pared by the Trump …
Energy briefs
** Utah-based EnergySolutions intends to apply for an early site permit from federal regulators to install new nuclear generation at the retired Kewaunee Power Station in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, the company said in a statement last week. ** Donald Trump’s administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency threw a tantrum Wednesday when asked to explain how exactly his …
Corporation Commissioners lean toward approving PSO’s power plant purchase
No formal vote was taken but by indications from Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners, it appears they are leaning toward supporting the preapproval request of Public Service Company of Oklahoma for the acquisition of the Green Country Power Plant in Jenks. If approval by Commissioners Kim David, Todd Hiett and Brian Bingman is made, it …
Oil finally closed down Wednesday—influenced by Iran and nuclear talks
Crude oil prices finished down Wednesday after a whirlwind day of what influenced investors. First, there were reports Israel was preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities and that drove up prices earlier in the day. By closing time, prices were down because there came word that the new round of nuclear talks between Iran …