A number of energy-related bills will be taken up Thursday during a meeting of the Oklahoma Senate Energy Committee. AGENDA: HB1220 By West (Kevin) et al of the House and Standridge of the Senate (Proposed Comm. Sub., req. #2027) Utilities; securitization revenue stream of certain obligations issued by the Development Finance Authority; legislative findings in regards …
Category: Wind Energy
Energy briefs
** A U.S. EPA document shows the Trump administration intends to exempt 47 coal power plants from updated mercury and toxic emissions rules, including the Colstrip and Apache facilities in Montana and Arizona. ** Tri-State Generation and Transmission proposes a 307 MW natural gas plant and a 200 MW battery storage system in northwestern Colorado …
Energy briefs
** BP has made an oil discovery at the Far South field in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, it said on Monday, as the energy major seeks to grow production under a strategy reset announced earlier this year. The exploration well was drilled in Green Canyon Block 584 about 120 miles (193.12 km) off the coast of …
Regulators shorten Grain Belt Express power line in southwest Kansas
Changes have been approved by Kansas regulators for the route to be taken by the Grain Belt Express project, the one designed to carry wind powered electricity from the southwest part of the state and across Missouri and Illinois and to Indiana. The Kansas Corporation Commission gave approval to a shorter route through 3 …
Energy briefs
** Every anti-energy regulation at the EPA, the Department of Energy, the Interior Department, and the Army Corps of Engineers will sunset unless specifically designated for re-promulgation under Trump’s new “Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting” executive order. ** The date for the International Linemen’s Rodeo has been set for October 15-18 of this year in Overland Park, …
New Mexico adopts law to fund green energy projects
Among the 41 bills signed into law this week by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was one to give the state more funding power for green energy projects in small communities and to help utilities. One measure, House Bill 128 establishes a $20 million dollar fund to provide grants for solar energy and battery …
Energy briefs
** The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) made conditional commitments to provide high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to five U.S. nuclear developers to meet their near-term fuel needs. This first round of HALEU allocations brings innovative American nuclear technologies one step closer to commercialization. ** The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded BWX Technologies Inc. (BWXT) …
Wind turbine setback bill approved by House Committee–but compromise talks are underway with Senate
An Oklahoma Senate bill calling for a one-quarter mile setback for wind turbines from property lines and homes won approval Wednesday in the Oklahoma House Energy Committee. It also had some opposition. But SB2 still faces a road of compromise between the House and Senate, reported Rep. Brad Boles during the meeting. “It’s not …
Texas legislators consider more control of renewable energy projects
As Oklahoma legislators create more restrictive regulations on wind and solar development, Texas legislators are considering regulations giving the state greater industry oversight. According to the Texas Tribune, Senate Bill 819, by state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, would implement new administrative rules, impose fees and require the Texas Public Utility Commission to approve wind …
Arkansas legislators approve bill regulating wind farms
A bill to regulate wind energy development in Arkansas won approval this week in the Arkansas state Senate. Senate Bill 437 would create the Arkansas Wind Energy Development Act and what are described as significant restrictions for wind turbines. However, it also includes exemptions for areas “below 300 feet in elevation” which would exempt …