** Exxon Mobil Corp said on Wednesday it will begin hiring additional temporary operators of its Beaumont, Texas refinery as a lock out of 650 union-represented workers runs into its 11th week. ** Striking blue-collar workers at a Volvo heavy truck plant in southwestern Virginia have narrowly ratified what the company said was its final offer …
Carbon-capture project generates support, skepticism among New Mexico lawmakers
Some New Mexico lawmakers are skeptical of the $1.5 billion plan to convert the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station near Farmington into the largest carbon-capture facility in the world. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported the skepticism is largely from Democratic legislators while Republicans support the project. Click here for Santa Fe New Mexican. …
Crude oil prices take another hit
Even as the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported U.S. crude oil stockpiles fell for the 8th straight week last week, prices took a significant drop in Wednesday’s trading. Stockpiles are falling due to renewed strength in the U.S. economy which is driving higher fuel demand but oil prices plunged more than 2% on Wednesday. …
Lucas remains critical of WOTUS
Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas hasn’t given up on his continued criticism of the controversial Waters of the US rule that the Biden administration resurrected this year. On Monday, Lucas (OK-03), led by Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Senate Western Caucus Chairman Steve Daines (MT), sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael …
OKC mayor meets with Biden to discuss infrastructure plan
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt was among a handful of mayors scheduled to meet Wednesday with President Biden at the White House to discuss the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package yet to be handled by Congress. The Republican mayor recently was among those who signed a letter of support for the infrastructure plan backed by …
PSO continues partnership with Food Banks to Shine A Light on Neighbors in Need
For the eighth consecutive year, Public Service Company of Oklahoma is teaming up with Oklahoma’s two largest food banks to distribute more than 100,000 energy-efficient LED bulbs to families in need. Since 2014, PSO has worked with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma to coordinate the …
Chevron hit with $85 million lawsuit over February storm
Chevron USA Inc. has been sued in Houston federal court for $85 million by a Texas natural gas marketer who filed the action because Chevron failed to make natural gas deliveries during the historic February winter storm. Reuters reported that in a complaint filed on Friday, Cailip Gas Marketing LLC located in Houston accuses Chevron Natural …
Undocumented oilfield workers complain of unfair pay
Undocumented workers from Mexico are complaining they are underpaid in New Mexico’s oilfields and are being treated unfairly compared to documented workers. Click here for story from Carlsbad Current Argus.
Wellington Management partners with Enel Green in Oklahoma wind farm power project
Enel Green Power North America has made a long-term power purchase agreement for another of its Oklahoma wind farm operations currently under construction. The company announced Wednesday that it and Wellington Management agreed to terms for a 10-year virtual power purchase agreement for an 11 MW portion of the energy delivered to the grid by …
Energy news in brief
** America’s oil demand has soared to new heights in a remarkable turnaround from just a year ago when the pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a tailspin and decimated demand. A rolling average of U.S. total oil products supplied – an indicator of consumption – jumped to the highest seasonal level in government data going back …