The federal government reports that close to a third of all U.SA. households in 2020 had difficulty paying energy bills and it reflected an increase from five years earlier. The Energy Information Administration said that 27% of the 34 million U.S. households also reported they kept their home at an unsafe temperature because of …
Groups fight new transportation fees in Colorado
A legal challenge has been filed against new transportation fees passed by Colorado lawmakers last year, arguing they took an illegal side-step around voters when they enacted the landmark funding law. Click here for Greely Tribune
Bakken could be a major producer for another half-century
A new study of the available crude oil in North Dakota’s Bakken play shows there could be another 50 years of drilling activity for oil and gas explorers, no doubt including Oklahoma-based Continental Resources. Continental has made quite a living with its exploration of the Bakken, something that Harold Hamm initiated years ago resulting …
Lucas blames Democratic leadership for slow movement on bill creation
Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas criticized the delay by Democratic leaders in finally starting the process of a conference committee on U.S. competitive legislation aimed at China. “It’s been nine months since the House passed the Science Committee’s bipartisan competitiveness bills and almost five months since the Speaker and Leader Schumer announced we would go to …
Fight is underway in Missouri to save Grain Belt Express transmission line
Some of the towns and counties where a proposed $2.5 billion Grain Belt Express transmission line would be built in northern Missouri are fighting for the wind project. They are lobbying the Missouri legislature against other efforts to kill the line that would transport wind-powered electricity from southwest Kansas to Illinois and Indiana …
Federal bank reports increased energy activity in Midwest
Energy activity in Oklahoma and other states that make up the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City District remained strong in early 2022. The bank released its first quarter Energy Survey and according to Chad Wilkerson, Oklahoma City Branch executive and economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, the survey revealed that Tenth …
Regulators name new Secretary
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission recently appointed a new Commission Secretary. Commissioners named Amy L. Cummings to be the new Secretary. She replaces Peggy Mitchell who retired after many years of service to the Commission.
World and US energy headlines
** The Center for Biological Diversity and Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe are threatening to sue the Bureau of Land Management if it does not stop construction on a geothermal power plant in Nevada. The groups warn Ormat’s 60-megawatt Dixie Meadows project threatens a toad species found only at that location that was granted emergency endangered species protections earlier …
Oilfield thefts net pair 57 years in prison
Two men caught stealing oilfield equipment in 2021 in northwest Oklahoma are headed to prison for decades behind bars. Their sentencing stems from the July 2021 arrests of Neal Scrimsher, 50 and Harold Willson, 34 by the Alfalfa County Sheriff’s Department. The two had been taken into custody after deputies received a tip that the …
Crude prices recorded gains on Friday
After a 2% increase in oil prices on Friday, investors await Monday’s trading day to see what happens after countries announced plans to release crude oil from their strategic stocks. West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery went up $2.23 to $98.26 a barrel on Friday at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark …