The latest Gulf of Mexico storm sent crude oil prices up nearly 1% on Tuesday. Tropical Storm Rafael has already forced oil companies to begin evacuations of operations in the Gulf and could result in some 4.9 million barrels of oil production a day being taken offline. It might do the same with natural …
Regulators to examine wooden utility pole standards
Stronger requirements for utility poles? It’s a question being explored by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission as it considers utility pole requirements across the state. Commissioners will meet Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.and one of the items on the agenda is a state request to further explore the matter. The item refers to “Inquiry of the …
Next stop for anti-ESG Act in Oklahoma—the State Supreme Court
Housekeeping, in a manner of speaking, has taken place in the lawsuit that resulted in a suspension of the enforcement of Oklahoma’s anti-ESG Act and a recent court ruling against the two-year old law. Shortly after Oklahoma County District Judge Sheila Stinson granted summary judgment in retiree Don Keenan’s lawsuit against the Oklahoma Energy …
Most OGE customers see power restored following tornadoes
Most of the Oklahoma City residents who suffered tornado damage and lost electrical power on Sunday had it restored by mid-day Tuesday. Oklahoma Gas and Electric, in a storm update released Tuesday indicated 98% of the estimated 80,000 customers who lost power had their lights back on. The total included those who lost power …
Refinery closing in Houston
The nation is set to lose another refinery. It’s the LyondellBassell Industries oil refinery in Houston, Texas. The chemical maker made the announcement on Friday that it would be shutting down operations at its 263,776 barrel-per-day refinery sometime in the first quarter of 2025. Investing.com quoted Lyondell refining chief Kim Foley that one of …
Treasurer reports drop in gross production tax revenue on oil and gas
Another sign of falling oil and gas revenue in the state….it came in the latest tax revenue release from Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ. At the same time, overall gross receipts also reflected a decline. In his October 2024 gross receipts report, the Treasurer showed a more than 14% drop in gros production tax …
Tribe fights proposed wind farm in Oklahoma’s McIntosh County
Construction isn’t expected for a few more years, but the Muscogee (Creek) Nation is fighting a planned wind farm by a Canadian firm in eastern Oklahoma near Eufaula. The wind farm consisting of 100 wind turbines will be built by TransAlta Corps., a Canadian firm already operating a wind farm in western Oklahoma. The …
Turnpike convenience stores at Vinita, Lone Chimney plan for short duration closures for rebranding to Maverik in early November
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s concession partner Maverik plans a rebrand project at its convenience stores in Vinita off I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike and at Lone Chimney off US-412/Cimarron Turnpike in November. This will necessitate store and fuel closures; however, food service and restrooms will remain available to the public at the Vinita locations. The store …
Energy briefs
** Demand for green power in the United States will grow regardless of who is the country’s next president, major players in the wind energy sector Vestas and Orsted said on Tuesday, according to Reuters. ** Factory workers at Boeing voted to accept a contract offer and end their strike after more than seven weeks, clearing the way for …
New Mexico woman ordered to pay $3.5 million in royalties to Indian tribes
A northwest New Mexico woman has been fined and ordered to pay $3.5 million in royalties to Indian tribes that she hid over several years. Teresa McCown, 55, of Farmington, was the owner of M&M Production and Operation,Inc. and Shoreline Oil & Gas Company. She failed to file monthly reports and in effect kept …