The federal government came out this week with a prediction that gasoline retail prices will increase in 2022 before falling to an average of $2.80 a gallon in 2023. Oklahoma’s average this week stood at $2.97 a gallon, two cents higher than a week ago and 90 cents more than the $2.07 average one …
DOE awards funding for Oklahoma geothermal projects from abandoned wells
A University of Oklahoma geothermal project designed to provide heat for schools in Tuttle is one of four nationwide to receive up to $8.4 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. The funding will establish new geothermal energy and heat production from abandoned oil and gas wells. With this funding, DOE is partnering with existing …
OGE solicits bids for its largest solar-power effort
Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company is making a bigger push toward solar energy production, recently announcing its efforts to add up to 450 megawatts in the next three years. The company said it issued a Request for Proposals for nameplate solar energy resources to aid the utility in meeting the future generation needs of …
Record $141.8 million in revenue for New Mexico Land Office last month
Increased oil and gas production in the Permian Basin led to a record amount of revenue in December for the state treasury in New Mexico. The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports it totaled nearly $142 million and came at a time as New Mexico legislators prepare for the upcoming budget-focused 2022 Legislative Session this month. Click …
Continental’s Permian Basin acquisition one of top 4Q deals
The more than $3 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources assets in the Permian Basin by Oklahoma-based Continental Resources is considered the top upstream deal of the fourth quarter 2021 according to energy data analytics firm Enverus. Enverus released its summary of 4Q21 and full-year 2021 U.S. upstream M&A. In the second year of …
Xcel Energy South Dakota wind farm begins powering over 150,000 homes
Xcel Energy’s latest wind project went online this week in the state of South Dakota and is already offering electrical power to more than 150,000 homes in the Upper Midwest. Located in eastern South Dakota, the Dakota Range I and II Wind farm covers 44,000 acres in a region about 20 miles north of …
NM Governor removes game commissioner in water differences
A water access controversy in the state of New Mexico has resulted in political games as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, without explanation, kicked a member off the New Mexico Game Commission. The Albuquerque Journal reports Jeremy Vesbach didn’t get a reason for his sudden removal but explained his positions on stream access and hunting …
Friday’s other energy headlines
** The abrupt exits of Cecilia Martinez and David Kieve from the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality within days of each other have sparked alarm among environmental justice experts, who had already been frustrated by what they see as the administration’s lack of progress in fulfilling Biden’s promises to fix historic environmental and economic …
Biden weighing cuts to 2022 ethanol blending mandate proposal
Refineries fighting mandated ethanol blending levels might have some good news according to one report that suggests the Biden administration is considering lowering the 2022 levels below the 15 billion gallons. Reuters says the consideration comes amid backlash from the oil refining lobby and unions arguing the shrinking U.S. ethanol industry can no longer …
Illinois court vacates approval of Dakota Access pipeline capacity expansion
A decision by the Illinois Commerce Commission to expand operation of Energy Transfer’s Dakota Access oil pipeline was rejected this week by an Illinois appellate court. Energy Transfer wants to expand the capacity up to 1.1 million barrels a day from its current ability of 570,000 barrels a day. Click here for Reuters.
