There’s no shortage of bills filed in the approaching Oklahoma legislative session when it comes to utilities. Some focus on natural gas supplies, wind farms, alert systems, a nuclear energy study and CO2 sequestration facilities. Norman State Sen. Lisa Standridge filed SB1001 which would create restrictions on a public utility’s advertising expenses. “If a public …
Category: Wind Energy
Treasurer Russ says federal judge’s ESG ruling shows an Oklahoma County judge was wrong
While Oklahoma’s anti-ESG law is on hold because of a district judge’s ruling, State Treasurer Todd Russ says a recent federal judge’s ruling in Texas against ESG policies of American Airlines and BlackRock shows he was right to enforce the Oklahoma law. It was last year when Russ was ordered to suspend his enforcement of …
Growing opposition to wind farms in Oklahoma and other wind farm states
President Trump’s executive order signed this week halting offshore wind energy lease sales in federal waters also calls for an environmental review of onshore wind farms. It also pauses approvals and permits and loans for onshore wind projects. As the President pledged to target wind farms, the fight against the wind farms is …
Energy briefs
** A deep freeze is straining power supplies across the eastern US, sending demand on the country’s largest electric grid to an all-time winter high as the South digs out from one of the worst snow storms in 130 years. ** Extreme cold temperatures are disrupting oil and gas production in North Dakota, and it could take …
Eminent domain the target of numerous Oklahoma legislators
When protesters rallied earlier in the month at the Oklahoma state capitol, they complained about the use of eminent domain by utilities wanting to build large transmission lines and by wind and solar farm developers. Legislators were obviously paying attention, based on the number of bills filed on the very topic of eminent domain. …
Energy briefs
** Former chairman of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Mark Christie, was tapped by President Donald Trump to lead the independent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Monday. Christie has served as a commissioner on FERC for four years and before that, he was chairman of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, a body that he served …
Energy briefs
** Just a few weeks after the Department of Energy’s Inspector General issued a report urging the agency to halt all loans and loan guarantees from the Loans Program Office until it could ensure that it is complying with “conflicts of interest regulations and enforcing conflict of interest contractual obligations,” the LPO last week gave loan …
Energy Secretary’s one goal—affordable electricity in Oklahoma
“I’ve come into this position with really one goal in mind, is that is, and that is to ensure affordable and reliable generate electricity, affordable and reliable electricity for Oklahomans for today and tomorrow.” It’s the declaration of Oklahoma’s new Energy and Environment Secretary Jeff Starling in a sit-down interview with Scott Mitchell on News …
Invenergy claims 4-state transmission line will benefit Kansas
Kansas Corporation Commissioners are being told the controversial Grain Belt Express transmission line that will carry southwest Kansas wind-generated electricity all the way to Indiana will bring savings to Kansas utility ratepayers. At least, it’s the claim of Invenergy, whose officials went before Kansas House and Senate legislative committees. “This project will unleash the …
Electricity rates in 2024 were lower than 2023
With all of the electricity rate hikes approved in Oklahoma in the past year, it’s hard to believe. But the average wholesale electricity prices in the Lower 48 states were lower in 2024 than in 2023, according to a new government report. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says lower and more stable electricity prices …