** In the same week that the Biden administration reversed course on whether a ban on the sale of new gas stoves is under consideration, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed banning fossil fuel infrastructure, including lines that power gas stoves and furnaces, in smaller new residential buildings by 2025 and in larger ones by 2028. ** …
Category: General
EPA heard calls for tighter oil and gas restrictions during New Mexico hearings
A three-day public hearing by the EPA wrapped up this week in New Mexico where some residents made calls in support of the agency’s recent proposal to tighten air pollution restrictions on the oil and gas industry. The regulations proposed by the EPA would expand upon a proposal from November 2021, adding monitoring requirements, …
Energy users group successful in fighting for PSO customers
A correction to our story this week about the Oklahoma Corporation Commission regarding PSO and a Voluntary Curtailment Service program. The Commission, in its 3-0 vote, approved a revised tariff proposed by the Oklahoma Industrial Energy Consumers, one opposed by Public Service Company of Oklahoma. We wrongly reported that PSO’s proposed tariff had been …
Big gains for OK energy stocks as crude oil prices jump $1 a barrel
Crude oil prices grew by $1 a barrel in Thursday’s trading and Oklahoma energy stocks recorded a strong day with some firms seeing 8% and 9% gains. The oil price jump came after figures showed U.S. consumer prices unexpectedly dropped in December, presumably by optimism over China’s demand outlook. West Texas intermediate crude for …
Water contamination lawsuit against oil and gas company remains alive in OKC federal court
An Edmond couple who sued Houston-based Apache Corporation, blaming its oil and gas operations for polluting their water wells recently lost some of their challenges in Oklahoma City Federal Court. But the lawsuit by Kindall and Andrew Donehue is still alive, based on decisions by U.S. Chief District Court Judge Anthony DeGuisti. The judge’s …
Delegation votes to reverse Biden administration’s dangerous course of action
The US House on Thursday voted overwhelmingly in support of a resolution making it clear the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve should be protected from China and oil from the Reserve should not be sold to the Communist country. All five Oklahomans in the House supported H.R. 22- the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from …
North Dakota sues to end freeze on federal oil lease sales
The state of North Dakota went to court to sue the U.S. government and the Biden administration for freezing oil lease sales on federal lands. North Dakota contends the freeze resulted in a loss for the state of nearly $9 million a month from canceled leases reported Inforum. Click here for Inforum
Evergy blames renewable energy additions and inflation for higher capital expenditures
Capital expenditure plans by Evergy, the largest electricity utility in Kansas, grew more than $1 billion and the giant company blames inflation as well as the addition of more renewable energy. It could result in higher electricity rates this year in Kansas reported the Kansas Reflector. Click here for Kansas Reflector
Nebraska senators target state’s largest utilities with bill to ban solar and wind farms
Two State Senators in Nebraska filed a bill this week to block the state’s largest electric utilities from constructing or acquiring renewable energy operations or using eminent domain to carry out the acquisitions. The Senators represent most of the Nebraska Panhandle as well as part of the Sandhills in the northern part of the …
New Mexico regulator quits after only a few weeks on the job
Whoops. Looks like New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham didn’t do a deep enough exploration of whether one of her appointees to the state’s Public Regulation Commission was qualified. Brian Moore resigned this week after admitting he lacked the required education qualifications reported the Albuquerque Journal. Click here for Albuquerque Journal