Sulphur … Bartlesville … Barnsdall. That’s just the start when you list the number of Oklahoma communities hit by tornadoes this spring. Barnsdall should be on there twice. More than 11 hundred twisters have been recorded in the Midwest US through May. That’s about double the 30-year average. Meteorologists says there are two key factors …
Category: General
California: Oklahoma’s opposite when it comes to ESG investing
California is clearly Oklahoma’s opposite when it comes to ESG investing. ESG is the acronym for “environmental, social, and governance.” Basically, in Oklahoma, it means removing investments like the state pension plan from entities that oppose oil and gas. California is taking the opposite approach, but it’s not working yet. An effort to force two …
3 Oklahoma higher-ed institutions to offer degrees in AI this fall
Three of Oklahoma’s higher education institutions are planning to offer degree programs in artificial intelligence starting this fall. Oklahoma state regents have approved the programs at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Rose State College in Midwest City, and Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. The move is based on projections indicating more than 19 …
Corporation Commission administrator wants exemption from Open Records Requests
Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony plans a discussion on claims made last month by Brandy Wreath, the agency’s Director of Administration, that protests by ratepayers and the delay of the sale of winter storm 2021 securitization bonds led to higher costs. And in return, the Commission’s Director of Administration wants a pass on open …
Arkansas tries to keep its space efforts on NASA’s radar
As director of the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium, Constance Meadors believes she is putting Arkansas on the star chart and keeping it on NASA’s radar. The ASGC is “NASA’s arm into the state,” Meadors explained to Arkansas Business. She is in charge of partnerships with 17 four-year universities and colleges across the state all …
Enviros complain of oil and gas industry lobbying against abandoned well cleanup
Pro-environment publications ProPublica and Capital & Main reported how the oil and gas industry has lobbied hard in some states, including Oklahoma, to sabotage abandoned well cleanup bills. They cited several instances, including in New Mexico where the oil and gas industry worked in writing regulations, then used its influence to change some of …
Maintenance Director named by Oklahoma Turnpike Authority
Jeremy Smith recently was named the Maintenance Director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Smith most recently served as Maintenance program coordinator since 2022, overseeing the agency’s fleet purchases, maintenance training including the Certified Transportation Equipment Operators program among other duties. In his new role, Smith will supervise turnpike maintenance crews who work on all 630 …
US Senator and Oklahoma House Speaker begin tour on Tuesday
Tuesday is when U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin joins Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall to begin a four-stop official tour of the state. They call their tour a State and Federal Partnership Series: ‘Serving Oklahoma 101.’ The Senator and Speaker intend to hold a series of informative panel-style discussions regarding the role of state and …
Energy briefs
** A nonprofit backed by Chris Hohn, the billionaire money manager behind TCI Fund Management, says climate investors need to move into the highest-emitting sectors if they’re to effectively bring about a low-carbon energy transition. ** North Dakota officials approve a $32 million loan for a processing facility that will convert natural gas into liquid hydrocarbon products. …
NextEra and Entergy reach agreement for more solar power in Arkansas and 3 other states
Entergy and NextEra Energy Resources LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc. (NYSE: NEE), announced a joint development agreement that will accelerate the development of up to 4.5 gigawatts (GW) of new solar generation and energy storage projects. The agreement represents significant progress toward Entergy’s growing portfolio of renewable generation. “We’re excited …