Lawyers gathered over the weekend in the Texas Panhandle to hold a town hall meeting to focus on the more than a dozen lawsuits filed in the wake of the deadly and destructive wildfires. Most have been filed against Xcel Energy and blamed it for causing the fires that burned more than a million …
GOP Senators hit Treasury Secretary Yellen with more tough budget charges
First there was the tough round of questions from Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford and now Republican Senators have sent a pointed letter with accusations to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Lankford challenged the administration’s new tax code for not allowing business expenses for oil and gas producers. Then 24 Senate Republican accused the administration …
Rep. Lucas says Commerce Department and not FAA should handle commercial space development
The FAA or the Commerce Department—-who should be in charge of commercial space development? The FAA leaders argue it should be split responsibility between the Commerce Department and the Federal Aviation Administration. Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas, chair of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, says no, it should totally be in the hands …
New company helps Norman school district obtain solar tax credits
The Norman School District is using a new federal tax credit to install solar panels atop the Norman North high School. Installation is expected to begin this week as the district hopes to trim electricity costs. With the help of a new company, the school district is being able to do what it …
The race to develop hydrogen as a cleaner transportation fuel
The rush to hydrogen development in Texas is getting a new focus and also raising questions whether it is environmentally sound. Some contend it is not the clean fuel option as professed by supporters. Advocates say it is critical in combating climate change. The Texas Tribune recently explored the issue. Click here for Texas …
Energy quick reads
** The Biden administration announced $6 billion in funding Monday for projects that will slash emissions from the industrial sector — the largest-ever U.S. investment to decarbonize domestic industry to fight climate change. ** Sustainable energy company Avangrid unveiled its economic and fiscal impact report on March 1 and announced that its Kitty Hawk Wind project …
Hydro project developer has ties to China
By Mike W. Ray Southwest Ledger More is being learned about a Texas company whose plans to develop a hydroelectric power plant using water from the Kiamichi River in southeast Oklahoma were temporarily rejected last week. The Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation (SEOPC) is owned and managed by individuals who have no connections whatsoever to Oklahoma. …
House Republicans announce energy legislation blitz
Look for Oklahoma’s Republican members of the U.S. to be active this week in supporting a handful of GOP bills aimed against President Biden’s green energy push that targeted the oil and gas industry. The House GOP leadership announced over the weekend it intends to launch a blitz of bills switching who is in …
Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen
A salute to the late Oklahoma astronaut Tom Stafford and a discussion of energy bills in the Oklahoma legislature. It’s what Scott Mitchell and Jerry Bohnen discuss in the latest podcast of Mitchell Talks Energy.
Kiamichi River hydropower project founders
By Mike W. Ray Southwest Ledger An out-of-state company’s plan to build a hydropower plant on an eastern Oklahoma river in order to generate electricity for Texas foundered on the shoals of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Johann Tse of Dallas, Texas, was notified March 21 by a FERC official that Southeast Oklahoma …