Don’t expect gas prices to drop anytime soon. They’ve risen 40% nationwide since the beginning of the year reaching this week’s average of $3.13 a gallon. In Oklahoma, the average is up to $2.83 which is two cents higher than a week ago. A month ago, the Oklahoma average was $2.74 and a year …
Oil prices drop—farewell to $75 oil in the US
So much for $75 a barrel crude oil in the U.S. Oil prices took a hit after OPEC producers called off a meeting when major players could not come to an agreement whether to increase supply. After reaching a six-year high, crude oil for August delivery dropped $1.79 or 2.4% in Tuesday’s trading to …
Lucas makes another push to expand rural broadband service
Oklahoma congressman Frank Lucas joined others in the House in recently cosponsoring a bill to expand broadband service for rural states like Oklahoma. He and other Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee filed the Broadband for Rural America Act. The measure would help bridge the digital divide for communities across the nation by providing more …
Rail industry tests electric trains
While the state of California and the rail industry have begun experimenting with electric locomotives in the name of eliminating fossil fuel, such an idea was actually operational nearly 100 years ago in the salt mines of Hutchinson, Kansas. Burlington Northern Santa Fe recently conducted a test running a freight train from …
Colorado governor approves Front Range rail passenger district
Colorado is a step closer to a Front Range passenger rail train after Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill creating a new taxing district. But it could still be a few years before such a program goes into service reported the Associated Press and Out There Colorado. Click here for Out There Colorado.
Ex-Iowa Governor promotes carbon capture projects
Former longtime Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad contends carbon capture and storage is “one of the most meaningful steps” that can be taken to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Writing in the Des Moines Register, he said it has the potential to bring together individuals and organizations across the political spectrum. Click here for Des Moines …
Watchdog wants feds to acknowledge investors’ influence on Evergy expenses
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has a decision to make—whether to consider the influence of activist shareholders on the decision-making of the Kansas-based utility Evergy. The nonprofit group Public Citizen, one that represents consumers is urging the FERC to recognize two investment firms as part of Evergy reported the Kansas Reflector. Click here for the …
Foundation to expand well plugging operations
Kansas could soon be the next site of the efforts of a Montana-based nonprofit that caps abandoned oil and gas wells to stop methane emissions. The Well Done Foundation got it start two years ago and plans to expand operations this fall according to a report by the Washington Post. Click here for Washington Post story.
Energy news in brief
** Oil prices rose on Monday, driven higher after the OPEC+ group of producers again called off talks on output levels, failing in its third attempt to resolve a deadlock on increasing production, and leaving the oil market facing tight summer supplies and rising prices, Reuters, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal reported. ** The …
Developers drop plans for Byhalia Connection in Memphis
Opponents of the proposed Byhalia Connection crude oil pipeline through Memphis are celebrating after Plains All American Pipeline and Valero Energy Corp. dropped plans to build the line. Considered one of the biggest environmental controversies in Memphis, the project would have put the line through mostly Black South Memphis neighborhoods. Click here to read …
