Wyoming U.S. Sen. John Barrasso made it clear Thursday he doesn’t like President Biden’s latest energy nominees. During a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, a committee which also includes Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, Sen. Barrasso was particularly opposed to the nomination of David Crane to be secretary of …
Category: General
PSO wants state approval of $2.5 billion solar and wind power projects
Public Service Company of Oklahoma on Thursday asked the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for approval of its nearly $2.5 billion fuel-free power plan to purchase three new wind farms and three new solar facilities. The company said the proposed plan will help meet projected power needs while protecting customers from volatility in energy costs driven by high natural …
Nation’s rig count tumbles on major drop in Permian Basin
Enverus reported a drop of 18 rigs in its weekly rig count, explaining most of it was due to a big decline in the number of rigs drilling in the Permian Basin. The national count fell to 868 for the week ended Nov. 16 reported Enverus on Thursday. It explained the count is down …
Water to be a key topic for Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly pledged this week that protecting the state’s water supply will be a top priority of her administration as she stays in office for another four years. It’s what she told the 11th annual Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas held in Manhattan. “Waiting for a miracle is …
Mullin—higher Thanksgiving meal cost rests with President Biden and his policies
An affordable Thanksgiving meal is off the table. That’s the declaration from Congressman Markwayne Mullin who is about to become a U.S. Senator replacing Jim Inhofe who delivered his farewell address Wednesday to the Senate. In a column released this week, Rep. Mullin stated, ” Joe Biden’s gift to Americans this holiday season is a …
Helmerich and Payne sees large gain in quarterly net income
Helmerich & Payne announced its net income from the fourth quarter of its fiscal year was more than double what it recorded in the previous quarter. It also sees future growth in its international market. The Tulsa company reported net income of $46 million or 42 cents a diluted share from operating revenues of …
EPA fines Evergy over underground chemicals found at closed power plant
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined Kansas utility Evergy a total of $120,000 after chemicals were found during groundwater monitoring at the firm’s energy center east of Topeka, Kansas. The Tecumseh Energy Center had been closed in 2018 and included a four-acre area for coal ash. The site was less than a half mile …
Regulators approve massive wind power transmission project in New Mexico
New Mexico regulators signed off this week on a 550-mile transmission line to carry wind powered electricity westward to Arizona. The Sun Zia Transmission Project is owned by Pattern Energy and won final permitting from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission as well as the Arizona Corporation Commission. It means construction can begin next year. …
Other headlines of energy stories
** During U.N. climate change negotiations in Egypt on Wednesday, the United States signaled its support for the adoption of language calling for phasing down the use of fossil fuels — a major symbolic shift for the world’s largest oil and gas producer. ** A new study finds Louisiana communities with higher percentages of Black residents see 7 …
BLM sale of land to oil and gas producers protested in New Mexico
Environmentalists are protesting the Biden administration’s announced plan to go ahead with the sale of New Mexico’s public land to oil and gas companies. Nearly 3,300 acres of land located in Eddy, Lea and Chaves counties will be sold by the Bureau of Land Management in May of 2023 according to the Carlsbad Current-Argus. …