** The Washington Post reports that White House aides are reviewing whether to release more oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve if Russia curtails supplies. ** EPA data released shows carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the power sector increased last year over 2020, largely due to reliance on coal-fired power as natural gas prices rose. **Union workers …
Impact of judge’s ruling against Biden administration’s carbon emissions move
The state of New Mexico is among those directly affected by a Louisiana federal judge’s ruling that blocked government regulators from using a key estimate of carbon emissions harms. Axios reports the ruling delayed drilling permits, lease sales and environmental rules and as a result, at least 18 well permits in New Mexico cannot …
Winter storm costs handled by Iowa regulators
Regulators in Iowa have given approval for the state’s three major natural gas utilities to spread out extra costs to customers stemming from the brutal February 2021 winter storm. The Iowa Utilities Board is allowing the firms to extend the costs over long periods of time reported the Telegraph Herald in Dubuque, Iowa. Click here …
Higher crude prices might spark more oil exploration in Kansas
A report shows some oil and gas producers in Kansas are considering more exploration thanks to higher oil prices. Click here for KSNW report
Strong quarterly financial results reported by CenterPoint Energy
Just a few weeks after CenterPoint Energy received relief from Oklahoma Corporation Commissions over the February winter storm natural gas costs, the company released its quarterly earnings report pointing to what an executive called a “great year.” CenterPoint reported income available to common shareholders of $641 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, for the fourth …
Drop in 4Q revenue for Holly Energy Partners
Holly Energy Partners, L.P., operators of a refinery in Tulsa and other states reported a fourth quarter drop in net income. The Dallas company said net income for the quarter was $45.6b million or 43 cents a basic and diluted limited partner unit compared to $51.3 million and 49 cents a year earlier. What …
EV plant to be built in Arkansas
Eastern Arkansas will become the home of an electric vehicle manufacturing plant. Envirotech Vehicles Inc. of Corona, California announced Tuesday it will build a manufacturing plant in Osceola next to the Mississippi River and employ 800 workers reported Arkansas Business. Click here for Arkansas Business
Former legislator not giving up on constitutionality of storm cost recovery act
In his continuing challenge of the constitutionality of the February 2021 Regulated Utility Consumer Protection Act, former legislator Mike Reynolds says the response of a state agency to his lawsuit should raise serious red flags before the Oklahoma Supreme Court. He plans to file a request Tuesday to answer the response made of his lawsuit by …
Electricity producers fight efforts in Kansas to curb rate hikes
Kansas legislators, those who realize their state has the second highest average retail price for electricity in the region, introduced a bill to put a 1% curb on rate hikes. Electricity suppliers are fighting back as the Topeka Capital Journal reported. Click here for Capital Journal
That’s a lot of LED light bulbs
To help the poor in Oklahoma, Oklahoma Gas & Electric has donated 1.7 million LED light bulbs to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The utility said in its most recent “Currents” publication that goes out with electric bills that it recently donated 208,000 energy-efficient LED bulbs to the food bank. It worked with …