NARUC Urges FERC to Respect State Authority The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to respect state authority over retail electricity sales and protect ratepayers from higher costs linked to data center interconnections. Regulators warned that federal overreach could raise prices for consumers already facing infrastructure …
Kansas, Michigan Shield Ratepayers from Data Center Costs
States Act as Data Center Energy Demands Grow One of the main criticisms in Oklahoma over the rapid expansion of large data center projects centers on who pays for the additional electricity demand. Concerns have risen that ratepayers could be left footing the bill for massive infrastructure upgrades. But Kansas regulators acted first—establishing new rules …
October State Tax Report Shows Stable Oklahoma Revenue
Treasurer Russ Reports Steady Growth and Energy Strength State Treasurer Todd Russ released the October 2025 State Tax Revenue Report, showing total collections of $1.45 billion—a 3.4% decrease from September, but a 4.4% increase over October 2024. Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma has collected $17.03 billion, a 0.5% year-over-year increase, signaling continued fiscal stability …
Toxic Ammonia leak forces mass evacuations in Weatherford
Hundreds Flee After Tanker Leak at Holiday Inn Express Hundreds of residents and guests were forced to flee their homes and hotels in Weatherford Wednesday night after a tanker truck carrying toxic anhydrous ammonia began leaking in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn Express. The leak from the 8,500-gallon tanker created a dangerous plume …
EIA predicts 2026 oil prices to the mid $50s
If the U.S. Energy Information Administration is accurate in its November Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) with forecasts of trends across the energy sector through 2026, it doesn’t look great for the oil and gas industry. It predicts 2026 will bring crude oil prices down to the average of $55 a barrel. Key takeaways from the …
Construction gets go-ahead for Stillwater data center
Stillwater Planning Commission Approves Final Plat According to The Stillwegian, construction will soon begin in earnest on Google’s new data center in Stillwater, marking a major step in the company’s $9 billion investment across Oklahoma’s AI and cloud infrastructure. The Stillwater Planning Commission recently approved the final plat for the project, clearing the way for …
Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen—the growing impact of data centers
https://www.facebook.com/reel/817668744229953 Not to belabor the point, but it’s clear the widening growth of data centers is having an impact, not just in Oklahoma, but many other states. The same kind of critical conditions being asked by Oklahomans are the same ones raised by ratepayers across the country. It’s a key topic on our latest …
Energy briefs
** The U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear an appeal in a case that will prevent utilities from issuing certain customer surcharges that will save ratepayers about $400 million by 2031. ** In a speech at the United Nations’ COP30 climate summit in Brazil, California Gov. Gavin Newsom criticizes the Trump administration’s absence from the …
Data centers and where should they be built
A new study that focused on where data centers should be built across the U.S. cautioned that the net zero promises of tech companies aren’t likely to hold up against the energy and water needs of the massive facilities. Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study also showed pluses and minuses when it comes to …
Tribe continues fight over Dakota Access Pipeline
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) More than five years after protesters joined the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the battle against the Dakota Access Pipeline and staged demonstrations and live-ins at the site in North Dakota, the tribe is far from finished with its fight. It filed new court documents contending a federal judge …