The Biden administration’s threat of a possible release of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve resulted in a drop in oil futures on Friday. Many Oklahoma energy stocks took the same route. West Texas Intermediate crude for December delivery fell 80 cents or 1% to $80.79 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. …
OK homebuilders reject increased green codes
Efforts to implement greener building codes in Oklahoma have been turned aside by homebuilders who argued such a move would have only increased the already rising costs of new homes in the state. The Oklahoman reports the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission initiated the rejection of the proposal from an Energy Conservation Technical Committee. …
Major transmission project in Southeast New Mexico finished by Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy announced a major multi-million dollar high-voltage transmission line in southeastern New Mexico’s heavy oil and gas drilling area has become operational. The company said the major power-grid improvement project launched in2014 to support southeast New Mexico’s economic development was recently completed in southern Eddy and Lea counties. “Over the past 15 years …
New Mexico water chief quitting over lack of support
Tired of a lack of support from the administration of New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the state’s top water official is resigning. John D’Antonio submitted his resignation this week saying a persistent lack of financial support to protect New Mexico’s water resources was behind his decision reported the Albuquerque Journal. Click here for …
Truckers score court win over EPA
A federal appeals court has handed major setbacks to the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for greenhouse gas emissions rules against heavy-duty truck trailers. The court ruled the two government agencies exceeded their authority reported Reuters. Click here for Reuters.
Alliance rips Sen. Warren over oil export ban idea
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, already criticized by Oklahoma energy producers when she made a Democratic run for President is not improving in her standing with her home state of Oklahoma. Nor of Texas. She and other Democrats in the Senate recently proposed a ban on all U.S. oil exports in a move to put …
Rig activity on hold in Oklahoma but growing nationwide
The latest rig numbers from Baker Hughes show Oklahoma is on hold with its count—44 rigs as of this past week, same as the previous week. Over the past week, figures from state regulators showed no new permits to drill and no new completion reports in Oklahoma. Nationally, numbers increased 6 to 556 total. …
New Mexico’s governor faces opposition from environmentalists over a pet project
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s hunt for federal funding to turn her state into a national center for hydrogen production has run into opposition—from environmental groups. She’s pushing a Hydrogen Hub Act in the upcoming legislative session but a report by Capital & Main shows environmentalists and Indigenous groups are creating a road …
Monday’s energy news headlines
** A report released Thursday by Ember, an independent energy think tank, shows the U.S. is still among the world’s top coal users. It casts doubts on Climate Envoy John Kerry’s boast at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Scotland that the U.S. coal production will be phased out by 2030. ** Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said on Thursday …
Colorado biofuel firm to produce ethanol-based jet fuel
A Colorado-based biofuel company has partnered with Chicago-based ag giant ADM to help it produce low-carbon jet fuel. Gevo Inc.’s deal will allow it to use half of the ethanol produced from corn by ADM in the low carbon sustainable aviation fuel that Gevo plans to produce reported the Denver Business Journal. Click here …