The politics that led to the death of the controversial Performance Based Ratemaking bill in the Oklahoma legislature—it led off the discussion in Scott Mitchell’s latest “Mitchell Talks Energy” with Jerry Bohnen. Politics also played a role in other energy developments as the two reviewed the latest stories affecting Oklahoma consumers. Click above to …
FAA nominee pulls out of the running as GOP opposition grew
One man Oklahoma U.S. Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin won’t have to worry about voting on is President Biden’s nominee for Federal Aviation Administration head, Phillip Washington. He withdrew his nomination over the weekend after it became clear he didn’t have the support from Republicans in the Senate. The withdrawal of the Denver …
BLM to sell Colorado land for solar farms
Nearly 1,100 acres of government land in Colorado is being auctioned for commercial solar energy production. The land isn’t for sale but the right to the solar production will be sold for lease. The Bureau of Land Management announced the 1,064 acres is in the De Tilla Gulch area of Saguache County, Colorado. The …
Kansas House members vote to ban ESG considerations in pensions and investments
Add Kansas as the latest state where leaders want to ignore the ESG efforts of the Biden administration and environmentalists. The Kansas State House recently approved a bill forcing state and local governments to ignore ESG factors in contract decisions and pension investments. The House vote was 85-38 and sent the measure to the …
OKC energy exec wonders why a high-flying bank is bailed out by government but his company
Faithful subscribers of OK Energy Today know fully well how we have followed the political and monetary travails of Oklahoma City’s Mammoth Energy Services in it fight to get paid $370 million by Puerto Rico and the federal government. Arty Straehla, the CEO at Mammoth, wrote at length over the weekend in The …
Commerce Director—decision by Volkswagen doesn’t mean Oklahoma is failing
The recent decision by Volkswagen to choose Canada over Oklahoma in a bid for an electric vehicle battery plant was seen as a failure from some critics of the Stitt administration, but not by the executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. If anything, Brent Kisling cited it as an example of how …
Members named to Senate committee to explore Oklahoma’s big economic project efforts
Senate leader Greg Treat identified members of a special senate economic development committee he created following the selection by VW of Canada over Oklahoma for the site of an EV battery plant. The first meeting of the committee will be Tuesday, March 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the State Capitol. The Senator said since …
Grain Belt transmission line close to getting final approval in Kansas and Missouri
Optimism is growing that the four-state Grain Belt Express transmission line, one designed to carry wind-powered electricity from Southwest Kansas to Indiana might get final approval this year. Regulators in Kansas and Missouri initially approved the large project and now must finalize their decisions reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Missouri Public Commission has …
Other energy quick reads
** The Biden administration plans to roll out executive orders and climate mandates affecting automobiles and trucks to reach a 50% reduction in emissions by the end of the decade, according to Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry. ** A 70-car train hauling hazardous materials derailed in North Dakota late Sunday, officials said. The Canadian Pacific train derailed …
Biden threatens a second veto of GOP energy efforts
The White House warned Republican leaders in Congress they would face another veto from the President if they pass a GOP energy legislation package. The White House claimed the President opposes the GOP package because it would lead to increased costs. “H.R. 1 (Lower Energy Costs Act) would double the cost of energy efficiency …
