Trump administration wind and solar approvals lag Obama record

  A new study shows the Trump Administration’s Interior Department gave approval to nearly half as many wind and solar energy projects on federal lands as the Obama administration did at the same point in its first term.   Reuters reported the numbers reflect the administration’s soft-pedaling of renewable energy development while favoring expansion of …

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Energy news in brief

** Murphy Oil Corporation will host a conference call and webcast beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Thursday, August 6, 2020 to discuss second quarter 2020 earnings. The company plans to release its financial and operating results before the market opens that morning. ** -Xcel Energy has elected a new board member, effective immediately. Charles …

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North Dakota state revenues plunge in pandemic

  Like a lot of other oil and gas producing states, North Dakota is struggling with plunging revenues from gross production taxes and how they have affected overall state revenues. North Dakota’s State Office of Management and Budget Director Joe Morrissette reported this week the tax revenues from oil production in the nation’s 2nd highest …

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Kansas City poised to adopt the most efficient building code in the country

  After years of lagging other cities on energy efficiency, Kansas City, Missouri officials have taken a step that could result in the city adopting the toughest building code in the country. Since 2012, the city has operated with a building code that was weakened to meet the desires of the home building industry. The …

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Slight interest in drilling for new wells in Oklahoma

  There is still some drilling interest in Oklahoma as shown by the few drilling permits issued by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. With only 9 active oil and gas rigs in the state, according to the last Baker Hughes update, any new drilling might be considered significant in light of the impact of the COVID-19 …

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AAA Forecasts Americans will take 700 Million Trips this Summer

  This summer, AAA forecasts Americans will take 700 million trips based on economic indicators and state re-openings. That number is down nearly 15% compared to last July through September and is the first decline in summer travel since 2009. AAA booking trends show Americans are making travel plans, though cautiously and more spur of the moment. “Americans will …

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IOGCC sets agenda for upcoming annual meeting

  The 2020 IOGCC Annual meeting will be held next week in Oklahoma City. The agenda was released this week for the start of the meeting on Monday, June 29 followed by a June 30 meeting of the group’s Energy Resources, Research and Technology Committee. For those  interested in attending any of the videoconference sessions …

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Gasoline consumption rebounds

  Gasoline consumption in the United States has just hit a big milestone; it is now more than halfway back to pre-COVID-19 levels as motorists get back on the road amid at least a partial recovery of the U.S. economy, according to OPIS, an IHS Markit  company. Fill-ups at the pump hit the rock bottom …

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Restructuring and more than $1 billion in write-offs at Schlumberger

  The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting crude oil price crisis have forced leadership at Schlumberger to make more major changes. Schlumberger is planning to bear about $1.4-billion charges related to the ongoing restructuring and associated job cuts, said its CEO Olivier Le Peuch. Notably, the one-time charge will be in the range of $1.2 …

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Oil prices and oil stocks dropped in Wednesday’s trading

    Crude oil prices took a noise dive in Wednesday’s trading as crude in the US and London dropped more than 5%. It was a race to see who dropped the most—crude oil or the crude production companies. West Texas Intermediate crude July futures dropped $2.36 a barrel or nearly 6% before settling at …

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