** The Biden administration announces $1.7 billion to retool or expand 11 auto plants in eight states for electric vehicle manufacturing, including $500 million for General Motors to convert a Michigan assembly plant. ** Tesla’s share of the U.S. electric car market falls to less than 50% in the second quarter as the popularity of General Motors, …
Already weakened I-70 bridge struck again in western Kansas
An Interstate 70 bridge labeled “structurally deficient” in western Kansas was struck again this week by a truck with an over-height load. The bridge is located in Trego County where WaKeeney is the county seat located west of Hays, Kansas. Debris fell to the Interstate after the collision. KSNW reported it’s unclear whether …
OGE among those helping a Houston utility under fire over Hurricane recovery
(before and after the storm) The 100 or more Oklahoma Gas and Electric workers sent to Houston to help restore power arrived to help a beleagered CenterPoint Energy, a power company that’s facing criticism over its lack of speed in bringing back power after Hurricane Beryl hit the city last weekend. The OG&E workers …
Job growth reported in oilfields
The U.S. oilfield sector saw a gain in jobs during the month of June according to a report from the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. The gain totaled nearly a thousand jobs as the national energy services sector moved to 647,636 jobs across the country. Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, …
Drop in US crude inventory sent crude prices higher on Wednesday
A larger than expected drop in crude oil and gasoline inventories gave a shot in the arm Wednesday to crude oil prices. They might have risen more but were restricted by some minimal supply disruptions from Hurricane Beryl. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 69 cents or 0.85% to finish at $82.10 a barrel on the …
Two workers still hospitalized following workover rig explosion
The workover rig site where four workers were hurt in an explosion earlier this week near the Grady County community of Bradley was owned and operated by Red Rocks Oil & Gas Operating based in Oklahoma City. The company released a statement, according to News 9 TV, and said the site was the Newby …
Arkansas telecom firms move ahead with $13 billion merger
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other leaders were reassurred this week that a more than $13 billion merger between Little Rock telecom firms Uniti Group Inc. (Nasdaq: UNIT) and Windstream Holdings Inc. is still on track to create a “national fiber powerhouse.” It’s what Uniti CEO Kenny Gunderman told the state leaders as they gathered for a …
OGE crews respond to call for help after hurricane pounded Houston
More than 100 Oklahoma Gas and Electric workers gathered early Wednesday morning for a sendoff to Houston, Texas where they’ve been asked to help in the restoration of electric power following the destructive force of Hurricane Beryl. More than a million residents still lack power following the Sunday night furious arrival of the storm. …
Devon Energy’s Security expert named to First Responders Children’s Foundation
One of the newest members of the Board of Directors of the First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF), a national 501(c)3 organization dedicated to serving the children of U.S. first responders including firefighters, police officers, paramedics, EMTs, corrections officers, and 911 dispatchers is from Oklahoma City’s Devon Energy. Kent Chrisman is Senior Director of Security and …
ONE Gas faces upbill battle for its Kansas Gas Service division and a $58 million rate hike request
Leaders of Oklahoma-based ONE Gas received a setback this week for its Kansas Gas Service division that asked for a $58.1 million rate hike from the Kansas Corporation Commission. Staff at the KCC revealed their recommendation that the rate hike for the largest natural gas distributor in the state be only $31.7 million. The …