New Mexico regulators face a tough decision this summer—how to allow Public Service Company of New Mexico to wipe its hands from its Four Corners Power Plant. New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioners are being urged by environmental groups to oppose PNM’s plan to transfer its share of the coal-fired plant to Farmington-based Navajo Transitional …
AG and ALJ come out against PSO’s Energy Center proposed for Fort Sill
While national energy security leapt recently into the forefront with the cyber attack of the Colonial Pipeline, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter joined an Administrative Law Judge with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in opposing a $118 million energy center at Fort Sill. Public Service Company of Oklahoma proposed the $117.9 million project last fall including the …
Another leadership change for Harold Hamm
It’s official. Harold Hamm is stepping down from some leadership at Continental Resources Inc., the company he founded 54 years ago. But he’s not leaving the company. The company filed a notice with the Securities Exchange Commission on Thursday that the board of directors approved Hamm moving from his role as Executive Chairman …
Crude oil rebounded more than 2% on Friday
After three days of losses, crude oil prices reversed their courses on Friday with benchmarks in the US and globally each making gains of more than 2%. One report indicated the rebound was the result of a storm forming in the Gulf of Mexico, reversing the three days of falling prices caused by the …
Oklahoma’s rig count on the increase
Figures from Baker Hughes released on Friday showed Oklahoma’s oilfield activity is slowly on the rise, reaching a total of 26 oil and gas rigs. That’s an increase of two in the past week and the 26 compared to only 12 rigs reported one year ago amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationally, the count rose …
Lucas to NASA—don’t back off space exploration
Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas has some advice to NASA’s new Administrator Bill Nelson. Don’t stop exploration of space and don’t put the brakes on exploring our solar system. As the Ranking Republican on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Rep. Lucas and Texas GOP Rep. Brian Babin sent a letter to Nelson saying …
Kayne Anderson Energy Funds announces consolidation of Anadarko Basin portfolio companies under new management
California-based Kayne Anderson Energy announced the consolidation of three Anadarko Basin portfolio companies putting them under new management and creating additional funding for the oil and gas efforts. Under the consolidation, 89 Energy III, LLC was put in charge of the consolidated energy firms. Kayne Anderson consolidated Casillas Petroleum Resource Partners of Tulsa, Native …
Mullin’s column: Pipeline Security is Actually Infrastructure
Oklahoma congressman Markwayne Mullin asserted that the cybersecurity attack on the Colonial Pipeline Company should serve as a warning of what could happen if the radical Green New Deal is adopted by President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Writing in his Mullin’ It Over Column this week, the Eastern Oklahoma Republican who also …
O’Donnell bill set the standard for nationwide utilities legislation
Other states are signing into law measures similar to one authored last year by House Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, which gives local property and business owners the right to connect to any utility legally operating in their area. Earlier this week Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a similar measure into law and the …
Arkansas reinspecting 9 bridges under care of fired inspector
In light of the crack found in the I-40 bridge over the Mississippi River, one that resulted in the bridge’s shutdown and the subsequent firing of a bridge inspector, the state of Arkansas has launched a review of major bridges previously under the purview of the former employee. The Arkansas Department of Transportation said …