By Mike W. Ray Southwest Ledger The owners of Tenkiller Waterworks Inc., a privately owned company in Cherokee County, have revised their application to the state Corporation Commission for a rate adjustment. Tenkiller Waterworks (TWW) initially proposed a staggering rate hike of 84% phased in over three years. The revised application would increase …
Supreme Court to hear arguments Tuesday in Utah oil railway project
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday morning on opposition to an 88-mile proposed railway to carry oil from Utah and across Colorado—oil that in some cases is intended for Oklahoma’s Cushing Hub. Analysts and some environmentalists wonder if the eventual decision will drastically change how projects are permitted nationwide. Ever since the …
Signs of returning drought in Oklahoma after record November rainfall
Oklahoma Climatologist Gary McManus is getting worried again, first, because the long-range forecasts don’t include snow for Christmas but more importantly, the lack of rain and the rapid increase in drought activity in the state. He suggests there are better chances of drought coming back to the state than there are for snowfall on …
Millions in federal grants for Illinois River protection, bison herd growth and wetlands development
Of the more than $122 million in grants announced last week by the Biden-Harris administration as it joined the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, are several million for conservation efforts involving the state of Oklahoma involving wetlands, protection of the Illinois River and bison herd growth. Sixty-one new grants were announced in support of …
Skeptics say hydrogen hubs should be canceled
A year after Oklahoma failed to attract government funding for its proposed regional hydrogen hub with Arkansas and Louisiana, the fate of some of the successful plans is undecided. One of those is the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub or ARCH2 which is to receive more than $900 million from the Biden administration. The …
Granite Wash play in Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle made biggest rig gains
While the nation’s latest Baker Hughes Rig Count showed a gain of 7 rigs in the most recent reporting period, of the shale plays, the Granite Wash in Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle recorded the biggest gain. The Granite Wash count rose by two to 7 total rigs. The remainder of the nation’s …
Energy briefs
** The state of Oregon has advanced its sustainability efforts by approving the Sunstone Solar project, which will span about 10,000 acres in Morrow County. Set to be the largest of its kind in the U.S., the project will use nearly 4 million solar panels to generate 1,200 megawatts of power—enough to provide clean, emission-free electricity to …
Devon Energy announces new CEO after Rick Muncrief’s announced retirement
Devon Energy’s President and Chief Executive Officer Rick Muncrief announced Monday he intends to step down and retire effective March 1 of 2025. The 66-year old Muncrief has led Devon since the Oklahoma City company merged with WPX Energy in 2021. As to his successor, it will be Clay Gaspar, currently Devon’s Chief …
ONE Gas issues investor update and expectations for 2025
What can investors in Oklahoma-based ONE Gas expect from the utility in the coming year? In a new Investor Update, ONE Gas, the company that owns Oklahoma Natural Gas, Kansas Gas Service and Texas Gas Service indicated it expects earnings in the coming year in the range of $254 million to $261 million. It …
Mitchell Talks Energy with Jerry Bohnen—reviewing Corporation Commission challenges
More drama at the corporation commission (what’s new, right?) ahead of the Supreme’s soon-to-be-revealed decision in the legislators versus Todd Hiett situation. A look at continuing efforts to stop Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett from voting on rate cases for utilities. Scott Mitchell and Jerry Bohnen go deeper into a legislator’s efforts to stop the …