Dozens of so-called orphaned wells in Oklahoma’s Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge will be among those to be plugged under the Department of Interior’s investment of nearly $64 million announced this week. The $63.8 million is through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said it will put people to …
Causes determined for 2021 Boulder fire that destroyed hundreds of homes
Two years after the deadly and disastrous fire that destroyed hundreds of homes near Boulder, Colorado, investigators blame arcing Xcel power lines. Boulder County sheriff Curtis Johnson announced the conclusion of investigators saying embers buried for six days on a residential property reignited and together with sparks from an “unmoored” Xcel Energy power line …
ONEOK’s plan to buy Magellan Midstream faces opposition
One of the top shareholders in Tulsa’s Magellan Midstream Partners has come out against ONEOK’s $18.8 billion planned acquisition of the company. Energy Income Partners LLC, a 20-year old company that manages $5.1 billion, announced it intends to vote against ONEOK’s deal. It is the fourth largest shareholder in Magellan and has a 3% …
False report sent crude oil prices tumbling
A false report that the U.S. and Iran might be close to a deal on oil exports sent crude oil prices falling more than $3 a barrel before the claim was denied by the White House and the price tumble was stopped. The phony report stated that the U.S. might ease some sanctions in exchange …
Ozone alert for a 5th day in OKC and Tulsa
An ozone alert is in effect for Friday in Oklahoma City and Tulsa according to the latest announcement by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. It is the fifth consecutive day for the alert that leaves the air unhealthy for those residents who have breathing problems. The alerts for parts of Oklahoma are not …
How state manufacturing plant incentives can be frozen
Oklahoma’s attempts to land huge manufacturing plants in the state through the offer of millions of dollars in state incentives have been an up and down ride. Some offers were spurned and others are dependent on whether companies that agreed to locate their manufacturing facilities in the state will eventually meet their promised goals—namely …
Xcel starts work on 550 mile electrical transmission line in eastern Colorado
A large transmission line project with a $1.7 billion price tag is underway across eastern Colorado. Xcel Energy officially launched its Power Pathway Project with a groundbreaking ceremony at a site about nine miles southeast of Fort Morgan. The project will involve 550 miles of new 345-kilovolot transmission lines and four new electrical substations. …
New Mexico to consider request of banning PFAS chemicals in fracking
The state of New Mexico is being asked to ban certain fracking fluids if they contain those PFAS or “forever” chemicals and the Oil Conservation Commission will consider the request. WildEarth Guardians filed the petition in response to a recent report by Physicians for Social Responsibility indicating oil companies used roughly 9,000 pounds of PFAS in …
Attorney General goes after what he calls “climate change crusaders”
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond offered an explanation this week why he joined 18 other Attorneys General in launching a legal challenge to the EPA’s approval of California’s ban of diesel powered big trucks. “Extreme climate change crusaders are willing to do any amount of damage to the fossil fuels industry, regardless of the …
Lucas doubles down on whistleblower retaliation charges against Inspector General
The Inspector General of the U.S. Commerce Department remains in the target zone of Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas as well as a Ranking Democrat on the House Committee chaired by Lucas. California Rep. Zoe Lofgren joined Lucas this week in sending another letter of demand to Peggy Gustafson, asking for documents focusing on their …