As crude oil and natural gas production continues to rise, the United States could become a net energy exporter by 2026, according to a new report released Thursday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Moving forward to 2050, the outlook for the entire energy sector indicates a mass exodus in electricity from coal-fired power plants. …
OCC Data Links Saltwater Disposal Wells to Earthquake Seismicity
Disposal well operators placed nearly 23 percent less saltwater into Oklahoma’s deepest geological formation within the Arbuckle formation in 2016 compared to the previous year, according to the Tulsa World. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission provided the year-end data reports about the earthquake zone. Commission spokesman Matt Skinner said the 2016 volume numbers are mostly complete, …
Federal Ethics Officials Release Pruitt’s Financials Prior to Senate Confirmation Hearings
Federal ethics officials have cleared the way for Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be confirmed by the Senate, according to an Associated Press report. The Office of Government Ethics released Pruitt’s personal financial disclosure report on Monday. Pruitt’s official Senate confirmation hearing date has not yet been set. The Environmental Protection Agency nominee’s four-page …
Pruitt on Pruitt: His View on Environment Protection and States, Fed Relationship
While U.S. Environmental Protection Agency nominee Scott Pruitt was in Capitol Hill last week to meet with senators, the Oklahoma Attorney General spoke briefly on his views of the relationship between the states and federal government related to environmental protection. “Our environmental statutes have a very important role for EPA and a very important role …
Tulsa’s Summit ESP Enrolled in $3.1 Million Incentive Through OK Quality Jobs Program
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce announced Wednesday that Tulsa-based oil and natural gas equipment manufacturer Summit ESP LLC has pledged to hire 148 new employees in exchange for $3.1 million in economic incentives under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program. Summit was one of four companies enrolled during December of 2016 under the program, which provides …
Advice from T. Boone to Trump: Don’t Screw Up and Don’t Settle
Another billionaire oilman with Oklahoma ties has two policy recommendations for the Trump administration concerning the country’s energy plan. As a recent guest columnist for The Dallas Morning News, energy investor T. Boone Pickens outlined two suggestions for President-elect Donald Trump and Rick Perry, Trump’s nominee for the cabinet position of Energy Secretary: Don’t screw …
Erin Brockovich Returns to Oklahoma for Meetings in Pawnee, Cushing and Stillwater
The communities of Pawnee, Cushing and Stillwater will host earthquake forums on January 12-13 featuring environmental activist Erin Brockovich. Her life was the subject of a Hollywood motion picture in 2000 featuring Oscar winner, Julia Roberts. Brockovich continues to advocate on matters involving environmental issues. She appeared at an earthquake town hall meeting at UCO …
Conservative Groups Lobby for Confirmation of Pruitt as EPA Director
Two conservative-based groups are working the political arena to get Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt confirmed as the new director of the EPA. America Rising Squared came out Wednesday with a memo showing the regulatory overreach of the EPA in West Virginia, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota and Pennsylvania. Those happen to be where …
Quality Jobs Program Adds 566 New Jobs in State
Oklahoma’s Quality Jobs Program is creating nearly 570 new jobs at four companies enrolled in the program run through the State Department of Commerce. Tulsa-based Summit ESP, LLC, a leading manufacturer of oil and gas field machinery equipment plans to add 148 workers with benefits totaling $3.1 million. D and M Employee Leading, LLC …
Gasoline Prices Increase to $2.16 average in Oklahoma
Higher gasoline prices are reported this week in Oklahoma with a new statewide average of $2.16 a gallon, according to a weekly release from AAA Oklahoma. Around the state, none of the cities checked by AAA Oklahoma have an average under $2 a gallon. Lawton is lowest with an average of $2.08 a gallon. Tulsa …