Kansas and Missouri customers of Liberty Utilities could be hit with a rate hike while it’s unclear if the company’s customers in Oklahoma and Arkansas will see an increase in their bills. Liberty filed requests with the Missouri Public Service Commission to increase rates for customers in Missouri and Kansas. The Joplin Globe reported …
Study begins into Nebraska ethanol plant
Researchers in Nebraska have launched a 10-year study of the effects of the waste produced by an ethanol plant at Mead, Nebraska where residents now contend they were needlessly exposed to chemicals from the biofuel production process. Click here for story from The Guardian.
WOTUS returns
The return of WOTUS—the controversial Obama-era Waters of the U.S. rule raises many questions. For Oklahoma farmers who opposed it and applauded the Trump administration’s suspension of the rule, they wonder how extreme the Biden administration might go in enforcing it. EPA administrator Michael Regan has pledged his application of the rule will not …
Memorial Day–a time to pause and reflect
In honor of those who sacrificed for America’s freedom, OK Energy Today will not publish a newsletter on Monday, May 31. The newsletter will return on Tuesday, June 1.
Inhofe Weighs In on Redeployment of USS Ronald Reagan
As the Biden Administration prepares to withdraw military troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021, the USS Ronald Reagan will be redeployed to the Middle East, leaving the Asia-Pacific region without the presence of an aircraft carrier. The carrier will replace the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which must return to Norfolk, Virginia by July. U.S. …
Oklahoma State Legislators Adjourn on Thursday
Thursday marked the final day for state lawmakers as both the Oklahoma House and Senate adjourned after a full legislative session. Some energy-related highlights from the 58th Session include: House Bill 2029 (Rep. Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa/Sen. Zack Taylor, R-Seminole) Modifies the definition of division order when related to oil and gas. This measure passed the …
Homeland Security to Require Cybersecurity Reporting by Pipeline Industry
In the wake of last month’s debilitating Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced a security directive that will enable it to safeguard critical companies in the pipeline industry by identifying, protecting and responding to cybersecurity threats, according to an agency press release issued on Thursday. “The cybersecurity …
FEMA Earthquake Mitigation Activities Dashboard Now Available
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently released its National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) dashboard to provide the public with an overview of how grant money is spent. The activities detailed in the dashboard support local earthquake safety, mitigation and resilience activities. The FEMA NEHRP State Assistance Grant Program makes funding available through annual, non-competitive grants …
1.6 Million Colorado Residents Affected by Data Breaches Since 2020
Colorado has a strong data security bill, but to give more control to consumers, two more data privacy laws have been proposed. The Colorado Attorney General recently reported that data breaches have impacted 1.6 million residents and nearly 200 organizations since January 2020. This significant risk exposure has caused state legislators to introduce two new …
Inhofe Sounds Off on Lesser Prairie Chicken Proposal Impacting Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s senior statesman is ruffling feathers after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to list two distinct population segments of the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act on Wednesday. “Evidence shows that the lesser prairie chicken is thriving, making this proposal to list it as ‘threatened’ in Oklahoma completely unnecessary,” said …