The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has announced Kendal Theisen as the agency’s new State Traffic Engineer, a leadership role responsible for shaping the future of traffic engineering, enforcement, education, safety, and operations programs statewide. In her new position, Theisen will develop and implement traffic-related engineering programs designed to improve safety and mobility across Oklahoma’s transportation …
Electricity—world’s largest energy employer
Electricity Sector Now Leads Global Energy Employment The growing emphasis and importance of electric utilities and the power they generate in Oklahoma mirrors a much broader global shift now unfolding across nearly every major economy in the world. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that the electricity sector is now the world’s largest energy employer, …
Natural gas to play major role in NextEra/Google deals
Natural Gas Plays Key Role in Power Strategy This week’s announcement of a major power agreement by NextEra Energy with Google, Meta, Exxon Mobil and other companies to build infrastructure for the AI boom involves several projects throughout the Midwest and even the Southwest Power Pool, the regional grid operator that includes Oklahoma. As details …
Legislator goes non-stop in challenging Hiett’s voting
One of the three legislators who went to the State Supreme Court in an attempt to stop Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett from voting on certain utility rate cases is making a full-court press by filing a large number of claims and complaints in the cases before the state regulators. One of the cases (2025-000038) …
Groups urge Congress to stop data center growth
Environmental Groups Call for National Data Center Moratorium Hundreds of environmental groups across the country now say it is time for a national moratorium on the growth of data centers, citing massive concerns involving energy use, water consumption, climate impacts and electricity costs. None of the organizations that signed the letter operate out of Oklahoma, …
Energy briefs
** NextEra Energy plans to make improvements to the original design of an Iowa nuclear plant that closed in 2020 following damage from a major storm as it looks to restart the facility. ** A coalition of 143 solar companies and industry representatives call on Congress to override a Trump administration policy that they say …
Crude oil dropped 2% after Iraqi oilfield production returned
After closing Friday at their highest level since November 18, crude oil prices on Monday fell 2% after production was restored in a large Iraqi oilfield. The Lukoil West Qurna 2 oilfield accounts for 0.5% of the world oil supply and an export pipeline leaked last week but Reuters reported it had been …
Steady oil/gas rig activity in Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s oil and gas drilling was unchanged in the past week as the latest Baker Hughes Rig Count showed no losses or gains in the state’s popular drilling regions. The Cana Wood remained the most active with an unchanged count of 17 rigs followed by the Granite Wash at 12. The Ardmore Woodford …
Warmer weather in Oklahoma—at least for a few days!
Spring-like weather is what most Oklahomans will enjoy this week, at least for a while. Oklahoma Mesonet Climatologist Gary McManus says enjoy it while you can. “Very EARLY spring, but we’ll take those 60s this week before the bottom drops out (and we all know just how painful that can be),” he wrote in Monday’s Mesonet …
Tyson threatens pullout of poultry operations in Oklahoma over pollution enforcement
Tyson Foods is threatening to end its poultry-raising contracts in eastern Oklahoma if State Attorney General Gentner Drummond doesn’t ease up on his efforts to force a cleanup of poultry pollution of the Illinois River and Lake Tenkiller. The company issued a statement recently in response to Drummond’s contention the companies responsible for the pollution …