** U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright today directed Sable Offshore Corp. to restore operations of the Santa Ynez Unit and Santa Ynez Pipeline System to address supply disruption risks caused by California policies that have left the region and U.S. military forces dependent on foreign oil. Sable’s facility can produce approximately 50,000 barrels of …
Category: Wind Energy
Energy briefs
** The Trump administration says it will release 172 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve — about 40% of its supply — in an attempt to curb rising prices. ** Climate advocates file a lawsuit accusing New Mexico energy regulators of endangering residents’ health by failing to address thousands of unplugged, …
SPP makes agreement with Grain Belt Express developers
It’s been a bumpy ride for the developers of the $11 billion Grain Belt Express transmission line to carry wind-powered electricity from southwest Kansas and across Missouri and Illinois to Indiana. But they made another development possible this month. After losing a $5 billion Department of Energy loan last year, the firm behind the 800-mile …
Oklahoma wind farm operator gives up on Michigan wind project
Nearly 6 years after announcing efforts to build a 50,000-acre wind farm in central Michigan, Apex Clean Energy, a renewable energy firm with nearly half a dozen projects in Oklahoma, is giving up. The Virginia company said it was no longer pursuing approval and support for what was labeled the Montcalm Wind Project. While Apex …
Energy briefs
** U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the opening of an oil refinery in Brownsville, Texas and thanked Indian energy company Reliance for its investment. Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, saying the America First Refining project would “fuel U.S. Markets, strengthen our National Security, boost American Energy production, deliver Billions of Dollars in …
U.S. energy secretary warns Colorado’s energy policies could drive up prices, deter businesses
(U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Congressman Gabe Evans R-CD 8, meet with the press at the Ft. St. Vrain Generating Station near Platteville, Colo., to talk about how Colorado energy policies are threatening the state’s economy on March 9, 2026 (Scott Weiser, The Denver Gazette) Colorado was warned this week that its state …
NextEra Energy avoided paying all of $2.5 million fee for Enid solar farm
When NextEra Energy started work on its 2,000-acre Skeleton Creek solar farm near Enid, it attempted through negotiations to lower its $2.5 million construction permit fee. The company wanted to pay $15,000 but eventually, with enforcement from the State Attorney General’s office, and eventually, through negotiations, managed to pay only $500,000. An investigation by …
Energy briefs
** Exxon is asking shareholders to approve moving its formal incorporation from New Jersey to Texas, citing a more favorable legal and regulatory environment. New Jersey has the highest corporate tax rate in the nation. ** Advocates and Texas officials in the petrochemical hub of Corpus Christi warn of a “water emergency” within months that could disrupt …
Energy Brief: SPR call, AES deal, Venezuela oil
Strategic Petroleum Reserve and gasoline price concerns ** Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) Sunday called on President Trump to release oil from the national stockpile to counter soaring gasoline prices. Electric utility leadership change at AEP Texas ** American Electric Power named Adrian Rodriguez as president and chief operating officer of AEP Texas replacing …
Energy briefs
** Crude oil prices are at their highest levels since the military campaign against Iran after climbing again overnight and this morning. The Energy and Treasury Departments will begin rolling out new efforts today to address energy price increases from the Iran conflict, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. ** AES Corp.’s share price dropped …