Legislation modifying who appoints members to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives this week. Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, authored House Bill 2263 to give equal appointment authority to the House Speaker, Senate President Pro Tempore and the Governor, who, if the bill becomes law, will appoint two members each to …
PSO announces dozens of grants to schools across Oklahoma
Public Service Company of Oklahoma, an American Electric Power company, announced 54 American Electric Power grants to underwrite innovative classroom approaches in local schools. Ranging from $160 to $500, AEP Teacher Vision Grants are designed to make creative projects possible for Pre-K through Grade12 teachers. The AEP grants will mean treated lumber to build …
Electric utilities Performance Based Ratemaking bill dead in the legislature
The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma proclaimed victory in defeating the controversial Senate Bill 1103, the proposed performance based rate measure for utilities in the state. In an announcement, the Alliance said the bill “is now dormant” for the 2023 legislative session “thanks to efforts by Alliance staff and its members.” Senate Bill 1103 was …
Rig count grows across the U.S. but makes slight drop in Oklahoma
The latest Baker Hughes Co. rig count released on Friday showed Oklahoma’s numbers declined by one to 61 rigs while nationally, the numbers grew to 758. The increase of four for the U.S. count included four more oil rigs to reach a total of 593 while the number of gas rigs was unchanged in …
More large gas wells found in Pittsburg County and more exploration lies ahead for the STACK
Southeastern Oklahoma’s Pittsburg County is the site of more big natural gas wells, the latest by Trinity Operating USG LLC, which filed reports on wells completed in May of 2022. Trinity, a Houston-based company with drilling operations in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana, produced two natural gas wells on a single pad and combined production …
Crude oil prices tumbled Friday while OK energy stocks had a slight rebound
Crude oil prices finished the week with two straight days of losses and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s comments about taking years to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve continued having an impact. Plus, there was continued worry as European banking shares fell. Oklahoma energy stocks also finished the week with stronger gains. West Texas Intermediate …
Company fined by EPA in New Mexico’s Permian Basin
Nearly half a million dollars in fines were leveled against Permian Basin oil and gas operator Chisholm Energy Operating by the EPA. The Environmental Protection Agency found the company in violation of the Clean Air Act during an airplane investigation 3 years ago throughout the Permian Basin in the southeast part of New Mexico. …
Energy group wants Interior Secretary Haaland investigated over ethics issues
The Western Energy Alliance in Denver has gone public with a request of Republican leaders to investigate U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland over alleged ethics violations concerning her daughter, Somah Haaland. The request was made by Western Energy’s President Kathleen Sgamma in a letter to U.S. House Natural Resources Committee chairman Bruce Westerman of …
More fast energy reads
** The Sierra Club alleges in a lawsuit that a major Illinois coal plant has operated “illegally” for more than a decade without an operating permit from the state as required under the Clean Air Act. ** The Biden administration is finalizing more stringent efficiency requirements for both window air conditioners and portable air cleaner, the first set of …
Oklahoma Reps supported veto override but failed in the House
The Republican led House tried and failed this week to override President Biden’s first veto of an ESG investment bill, even with the support of all five Oklahoma members in the House. Reps. Stephanie Bice, Josh Brecheen, Tom Cole, Kevin Hern and Frank Lucas joined 214 other members of the House but 200 Democrats …
