The Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC), in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division (NRD), has rescheduled the second in a series of public meetings to update the watershed-based management plan for the Illinois River Watershed. The January meeting had been postponed due to inclement weather and will now be held …
Central Kansas officials take steps to protect Cheyenne Bottoms from solar farm encroachment
Right in the middle of Kansas—Great Bend—residents want tougher rules for solar farms. Many residents of Barton County, once an oil hot-spot half a century ago, want protection of their popular Cheyenne Bottoms wildlife area from construction of solar farms. Cheyenne Bottoms is a nearly 60-square mile natural geologic depression that is the …
Groups claim New Mexico’s oil and gas permits violate state constitution
New Mexico, the second-largest oil-producing state in the nation, was sued this week by environmental groups and youth activists who contend the state is violating its constitution by permitting oil and gas production and failing to enforce pollution laws. The groups, that include individuals from the Pueblos, the Permian Basin and Navajo Nation, contend …
Citizen Energy wells latest in company’s two-year old Anadarko Basin expansion
The delayed filing of a completion report by Citizen Energy III LLC of Tulsa showed the company had three natural gas wells on a single pad in Canadian County and combined production of more than 14,000 Mcf a day of natural gas. The company filed a completion report on another Earles Ranch wells a …
Congressman worried about Energy Department’s funding of Communist China energy firms
Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas and others on a House Committee he chairs, are growing more concerned that the Biden administration’s Energy Department is funding Communist China-backed firms in the U.S. A hearing was held by the House Science, Space and Technology Committee’s joint subcommittee. Entitled Return on Unprecedented Investment: An Analysis of the Department …
Remodeling project to close OKC Embark Transit Center
Oklahoma City’s downtown bus and trolley service announced construction work will result in a temporary closing of the downtown Transit Center interior lobby and public restrooms. The closing will go into effect Monday, May 15 and continue through July as interior construction will begin for an ongoing remodeling project. Customer Service will be …
Other energy updates
** Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signs a bill exempting certain solar and wind components from state sales taxes. ** Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signs a bill barring blinking red wind turbine lights from operating when no low-flying aircraft are nearby. ** The U.S. Department of Homeland Security this week raided a factory and sales office operated by one of the …
US Attorney interested in study of Icahn’s holdings
Word that Carl Icahn’s business ventures took an economic hit and the corporate raider who owns most of Oklahoma’s SandRidge Energy as well as the CVR refinery lost $10 billion in recent weeks attracted the interest of a New York U.S. Attorney’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District in New York …
2-mile wind tower setback proposed in one Iowa County
A county in Iowa has proposed wind turbine setbacks of up to two miles from the nearest residences. It’s in Woodbury County where the board of supervisors is considering revising the setback requirement, increasing it from the current 600 feet to 2 miles. As KCAU reported, some residents think 2 miles is still not …
Study contends Oklahoma is among worst states for oil and gas related health problems
A new study published in Environmental Research: Health contends air pollution from oil and gas production in the U.S. causes an estimated $77 billion in annual nationwide health impacts and some of the worst is in Oklahoma and a few other oil states. The study claimed the highest proportions of associated health damages are …
