A weekend report detailed how electricity prices in Texas soared 6,000% on Thursday as the heat wave bakes the state and Oklahoma too. Bloomberg reported that spot prices jumped to $4,750 per megawatt-hour Thursday afternoon from the average of $75 on Wednesday. The weekend might have produced even greater prices as the heat wave …
Appeals Court strikes down controversial oil train in Utah and Colorado
Environmentalists and others fighting the proposed Unita Basin Railway, the pone that would carry oil from Utah and across western Colorado and eventually to Oklahoma’s Cushing hub, won a federal appeals court order to block the project. The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Appeals Court struck down previous government approval of the project and ruled that …
Crude oil prices gained on Friday along with Oklahoma energy stocks
Crude oil finished the week on Friday with a 1% gain on the day, despite signs of a slowing U.S. output and a 6th straight week of declines in American rig counts. The gains were made on growing worries about global demand growth. Oklahoma energy stocks wrapped up the week with a day of gains …
Oklahoma Broadband Office goes transparent in updating its progress
In a move to keep the public informed about its progress in expanding broadband service in Oklahoma’s rural areas, the state Broadband Office launched an interactige online map detailing the availability of high-speed internet service in the state. Executive Director Mike Sanders announced the Oklahoma Broadband Map is available at map.broadband.ok.gov, and offers Oklahomans a …
Oklahoma’s hot weather to extend into the fall
Oklahoma’s hot summer is going to be extended into the fall. It’s the forecast of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The 90-day forecast was released this week indicating we’ll have warmer than usual temperatures between September and November. Oklahoma won’t be alone because NOAA anticipates “above-normal seasonal mean tempertures across a majority …
AEP formalizes $1.5 billion in sale of unregulated wind farms
The sale of some of its unregulated an contracted renewable energy sites by American Electric Power, a deal worth $1.5 billion, involved some wind farms in Texas, Colorado and Kansas. They were among 14 such holdings sold to IRG Acquisition Holdings, a partnership owned by Invenergy, CDPQ and funds managed by Blackstone Infrastructure. AEP …
Energy fast reads
** Three survivors of the deadly wildfires that ravaged Maui said Wednesday that when the inferno erupted, the main escape route out of town was partly blocked by Hawaiian Electric trucks clearing downed lines and replacing busted power poles. ** U.S. natural gas trade groups are opposing federal pipeline regulators’ proposed methane leak detection rules to …
PSO makes $100,000 contribution toward food program in Tulsa
Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) announced on Thursday a $100,000 American Electric Power Foundation grant to Food On The Move to increase food production for Tulsans in need. Food On The Move’s Urban Farm will produce more than 150,000 pounds of fresh produce every year. The nonprofit founded by Tulsa musician Taylor Hanson …
Thursday brought increased crude oil prices along with stronger OK energy stocks
After two straight days of losses, crude oil prices managed a turn-around on Thursday, thanks to a weakened dollar and a move by China’s central bank to improve the property market. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.01 or 1.3% to improve to $80.93 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, the …
Clean energy investments gain foothold in Oklahoma
Oklahoma is being cited as an example of a Republican-led state that is also rushing toward clean energy investment. Yes, oil and gas get deep appreciation from state leaders but renewables are also growing and being touted for their economic benefits. “The environmental benefits are nice,” J.W. Peters, president of Solar Power of Oklahoma, …