** Georgia Power Co. said Thursday that vibrations found in a cooling system of its second new nuclear reactor will delay when the unit begins generating power. ** ExxonMobil and Chevron reported lower but still strong profits Friday as they push ahead with hefty shareholder payouts and major acquisitions. The two biggest US oil companies, which have …
Crude oil and OK energy stocks dropped on Friday
Crude oil prices dropped about 2% on Friday and Oklahoma energy stocks suffered too with one firm dropping 9%. The Friday drop in oil resulted in weekly losses because U.S. jobs data sharnk the odds of imminent interest rate cuts n the world’s large economy, reported Reuters. Another factor that affected prices was weak growth …
EPA nominee approved despite opposition from Sens. Lankford and Mullin
(AP Photo/Mead Gruver, File) With Oklahoma U.S. Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin voting against him, President Biden’s nominee to lead the EPA’s air pollution office was confirmed by a one-vote margin. Joe Goffman, a longtime EPA official was approved on a 50-49 vote. West Virginia Sen. Joe Machin was the lone Democrat to …
False rumors led to 2% drop in crude oil prices
A rumor of what Reuters called “false market speculation” drove crude oil prices down as much as 2.7% on Thursday. The rumor? One that Israel had agreed to a Gaza ceasefire proposal. When the news could not be confirmed West Texas Intermediate crude futures, considered the U.S. benchmark, dropped $2.03 or 2.7% to $73.82 a …
EPA moves to declare “forever chemicals” as hazardous waste
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is taking some of the credit for the EPA’s decision to classify “forever chemicals” as hazardous waste under federal law. The EPA announced two new proposed rules to ensure that certain per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS are hazardous waste under federal law. New Mexico’s Environmental Department, in a …
OKC councilman to focus on transportation for National League of Cities
A city councilman in Oklahoma City has been named to the National League of Cities 2024 Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee and it means he’ll play a role in development of the organizations policies. The appointment of Ward Councilmember Mark Stonecipher was announced this week. As a member of NLC’s Transportation and Infrastructure Services …
Mystery Texas oilman who sparked Utah’s Uinta Basin oil development
What sparked the controversial movement to create a rail system carrying crude oil from eastern Utah’s Uinta Basin across Oklahoma and to Cushing where it would eventually be transported to Gulf Coast refineries? Turns out it was something of a reclusive Texas oil man who convinced others to develop the Uinta Basin. His name? …
US increased number of EV charging stations in 2023
Environmentalists are growing excited over the number of charging stations installed across the U.S. One report says there is now one quick charging station for every 16 gas stations in the nation. An estimated 1,100 new public fast-charging stations were installed in the second half of 2023 which represents a 16% increase, reported Bloomberg which …
Phillips 66 beat 4Q expectations
Phillips 66 announced fourth-quarter earnings of $1.3 billion, compared with earnings of $2.1 billion in the third quarter, earnings that beat expectations. Excluding special items of $102 million, the company had adjusted earnings of $1.4 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with third-quarter adjusted earnings of $2.1 billion. In addition, the company provided an …
Sen. Lankford says President’s LNG decision was “short sighted”
In the midst of negotiating for a solution to the tens of thousands of illegal immigrants streaming over the Texas border, Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford is also attempting to persuade the Biden administration to reverse the moratorium it put on LNG ports, a move that angered the industry and members of Oklahoma’s congressional …