** An oil and gas industry trade group, the state of Louisiana and Chevron on Thursday sued the Biden administration over its decision to withdraw acreage from an upcoming oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico to protect an endangered whale. The suit is the latest dispute between the oil and gas industry and …
Category: Wind Energy
Renewable power forces Wyoming utility to request 30% rate hike
Oklahomans have faced their share of electricity rate hikes in the past several years, but nothing like the ones faced by Wyoming customers—-30%. The fight is focusing on renewable power costs. It’s the hike requested by Rocky Mountain Power and this week, Wyoming customers came out in force during a hearing held by the …
Sweetwater, Texas–home to world’s largest wind turbine blade junkpile
It’s described as possibly the world’s largest junk pile of wind turbine blades. Located near Sweetwater, Texas about 40 miles west of Abilene on Interstate 20, the dump site is where thousands of unwated wind turbine blades are deposited. They cover more than 30 acres. The blades were brought here by Global Fiberglass Solutions, a …
Court halts Grainbelt Express Transmission Line project in Illinois
An explanation and correction about our story last week regarding an Illinois court ruling that halted construction of the Grainbelt Express Transmission Line in Illinois. The5th Appellate Court of Illinois issued a recent ruling that said the Grain Belt Express Transmission Line cannot move forward in Illinois. Phase 1 construction of the project that …
Energy briefs
** The Interior Department on Tuesday finalized a rule restoring a 2016 order, rolled back by the Trump administration, that tightens offshore oil drilling safety standards. ** The Biden administration on Tuesday approved a wind energy project off Rhode Island, the fourth major commercial-scale offshore wind energy project approved by the Biden Interior Department. ** A lawsuit challenging …
Energy headlines
** The Biden administration on Monday continued its push toward internet-for-all by 2030, announcing about $667 million in new grants and loans to build more broadband infrastructure in the rural U.S. ** Following the unexpected loss of thermal generation and due to extreme temperatures, ERCOT is asking Texans to reduce electricity use when it is …
AEP formalizes $1.5 billion in sale of unregulated wind farms
The sale of some of its unregulated an contracted renewable energy sites by American Electric Power, a deal worth $1.5 billion, involved some wind farms in Texas, Colorado and Kansas. They were among 14 such holdings sold to IRG Acquisition Holdings, a partnership owned by Invenergy, CDPQ and funds managed by Blackstone Infrastructure. AEP …
Energy fast reads
** Three survivors of the deadly wildfires that ravaged Maui said Wednesday that when the inferno erupted, the main escape route out of town was partly blocked by Hawaiian Electric trucks clearing downed lines and replacing busted power poles. ** U.S. natural gas trade groups are opposing federal pipeline regulators’ proposed methane leak detection rules to …
Clean energy investments gain foothold in Oklahoma
Oklahoma is being cited as an example of a Republican-led state that is also rushing toward clean energy investment. Yes, oil and gas get deep appreciation from state leaders but renewables are also growing and being touted for their economic benefits. “The environmental benefits are nice,” J.W. Peters, president of Solar Power of Oklahoma, …
Oklahoma regulators hit with “mess” over PSO rate hike request
“A complicated issue,” is how Oklahoma Corporation Commission Chairman Todd Hiett described Tuesday’s handling of the $155 million rate hike request made by Public Service Company. Thomas Schroedter, Executive Director and General Counsel to the Oklahoma Industrial Energy Consumers had another description. “This is somewhat of a mess,” he told commissioners as they pondered …