** U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm violated a law that limits the political participation and speech of federal employees during an interview in late 2021, a government watchdog said. The Hatch Act of 1939 limits the political campaigning activities of federal employees, except the president and vice president. ** Global spare capacity is running very low, which will …
Court limits power of EPA in climate change fight with Oklahoma and other states
In a 6-3 ruling Thursday in support of Oklahoma, West Virginia and 18 other states, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that limits the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency in restricting and controlling emissions at the nation’s power plants. It prompted Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor to call it “a big win …
Whiting Petroleum merges with Oasis in $6 billion deal
Shareholders of Denver-based Whiting Petroleum voted this week in support of a $6 billion merger with Houston’s Oasis Petroleum Inc. The move will result in a transfer of the company headquarters from Denver to Houston and also give the new company more focus in the Williston basin of North Dakota. Nearly 972,000 net acres …
Oil and gas industry offers weak response to Biden administration’s oil and gas leases
The Biden administration continued its first sale Thursday of oil and gas drilling rights on federal land in Oklahoma and 7 other states following weakness industry response at the start of the sales on Wednesday. Oklahoma has only a few lease availabilities compared to such states as New Mexico, Wyoming and Colorado. Wyoming has …
More detailed testimony to come in OGE rate hike case
A fourth day of testimony will be heard Thursday by a judge in the Oklahoma Gas and Electric rate increase case after Wednesday’s hearing resulted in a failed attempt to produce a negotiated settlement. OGE originally filed a request last year for a $163.5 million rate increase but earlier in June agreed with some …
Crude oil losses spread to OK Energy stocks
Increased U.S. gasoline inventories and growing concern about slower economic growth around the world sent crude oil prices falling nearly 2% in Wednesday’s trading. Oklahoma energy stocks also recorded big losses for the day. West Texas Intermediate crude for August delivery dropped nearly $2 a barrel to finish the day at $109.78 in trading …
Cushing hub continues slow slide in crude storage
The drop in the amount of crude oil held in storage at the Cushing Hub in northern Oklahoma has been slow but steady since the first of the year. As of this week, the Hub held 21.3 million barrels of crude oil, according to the latest Petroleum Report issued by the U.S. Energy Information …
Corporation Commission issues “phishing” warning
State officials are warning Oklahomans about an apparent illegal “phishing” attempt to use the internet to obtain information by posing as the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Who’s being hit the most? Oil and gas operators according to a spokesman for the Commission. In a notice issued Wednesday, the Commission advised those receiving any email notice …
Run-off election needed to decide Republican candidate for Oklahoma Corporation Commission
The race to pick a new Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner on Tuesday resulted in a run-off election slated for August between the two top candidates. Neither Kim David nor Todd Thomsen received more than 50% of the votes so a run-off for the Republican nomination will be necessary on August 23. David, the former State …
Federal Reserve says Oklahoma’s farm economy is slipping
Oklahoma’s farm economy isn’t as strong as those in surrounding states and will likely slip in the coming months, according to a new report by the Oklahoma City Branch of the Federal Reserve of Kansas City. The branch issued its latest issue of the quarterly publication the Oklahoma Economist, titled “Oklahoma Ag Economy Diverges …