** President Donald Trump is calling for an audit that could kill California’s high-speed rail proposal, which has been around for nearly two decades and has made very little progress. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy secretary wants to investigate if there were any shady business dealings tied with the rail project’s failure so far. ** Federal energy …
Category: General
Stardust Power advances with lithium facility in eastern Oklahoma
In exchange for the technology needed for creation of its $1.2 billion proposed lithium plant at Muskogee, the largest of its kind in the U.S., the owner, Stardust Power Inc. agreed to give shares to the technology holder. It also has already made agreement to sell some of the produced lithium once the plant …
Three Oklahoma oil plays see increase in rig activity
Three of Oklahoma’s oil plays saw gains in oil and gas rigs in the past week, according to the Baker Hughes Co. rig report. The Cana Woodford gained two rigs to reach a total of 21. The Ardmore Woodford count grew by one to 3 rigs while the Arkoma Woodford continued for another week …
State to hold meetings for updating comprehensive water plan
The Oklahoma Water Resources board prepares to hold its first of several meetings next week to discuss recommendations for the 2025 update to the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan. At least five Round 5 of Regional Meetings will be held next week. The following is the list of when and where the sessions will be …
Report shows average state tax rates on gasoline and diesel fuel nearly flat
Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, federal and state motor fuel taxes A new government report indicates the fuel taxes paid by motorists across the U.S. remained flat over the past several months. As of January 1, 2025, state taxes and fees on gasoline and diesel fuel averaged $0.33 per gallon (gal) of gasoline and $0.35/gal …
EV charging stations to be shut down at Federal campus in Denver
This week, electric vehicle charging stations at the Federal Center in Denver are expected to be shut down as the Department of Government Efficiency continues its growing effort to cut government spending. Colorado Public Radio reported the U.S. General Services Administration explained the EV chargers are not critical to its operations in Colorado. Click …
Oklahoma makes big gain in oil and gas rigs
Oil and gas drilling in Oklahoma took a big step in the past week, increasing the state rig count by five to 49 total rigs, according to the latest Baker Hughes Co. rig count. It was the largest one-week increase for the state in months. The total of 49 compared to the 44 rigs …
BLM holds first land auction without Biden administration climate costs
Last week’s nearly $21 million sale of Permian Basin oil and gas leases was the first to be held after the Trump administration removed an analysis of environmental justice and climate costs that had been imposed by the Biden administration. The sale by the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management covered 1,317 acres …
National storm chasers group wades into proposed Oklahoma licensing efforts
The efforts of two Oklahoma legislators to create a “licensing” law for storm chasers in the state are stirring up a storm of their own. Members who attended the recent National Storm Chaser Summit in Overland Park, Kansas discussed the two bills, SB158 by Sen. Mark Mann of Oklahoma City and House Bill 2426 …
Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen—they’re not finished with ROFR
The debate isn’t finished. Another expert contends a “competitive bidding” bill by Rep. Trey Caldwell is a ROFR or Right of First Refusal bill, even though the legislator says it isn’t. It’s an issue that could affect the electricity rates paid by consumers in Oklahoma and was the topic of another Mitchell Talks Energy …