Pollution fines in Texas were increased in the just-finished Texas legislative session. Penalties assessed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality were increased from the previous maximum of $25,000 a day to $40,000 per day. It was the first increase since 2011 as reported by Public Health Watch. Click here for Public Health Watch …
Chairman quits power grid board in Texas after failure of legislature
The chairman of the Texas Public Utility Commission quit last week after the state legislature failed to approve a plan to help the state grid withstand weather disasters. Legislators said the plan didn’t do enough to boost fossil fuels so Peter Lake submitted his resignation on Friday. He was appointed to the commission in …
U.S. residential electricity bills increased 5% in 2022, after adjusting for inflation
Just as some of Oklahoma’s major utilities, Public Service Company of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Gas and Electric are wanting approval of the Corporation Commission for higher rates, a government report confirms what customers have known…their rates have increased in the past two years. But it probably didn’t take a government report to tell us …
PSO to learn about status of $155 million rate hike request
The waiting is about over for Public Service Company executives and lawyers who went before an Administrative Law Judge last month with their $155 million request for a rate hike. The ALJ who presided over the three-day hearing could have a recommendation when the Corporation Commission meets Tuesday, June 6. The agenda referenced PSO’s …
UC Berkeley and Communist China are in the sights of Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas
The University of California, Berkeley is the latest target of Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas and others on a House Committee who object to any economic ties to Communist China. Lucas, as chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee was joined by Georgia Representative in sending a letter to the National Science Foundation (NSF) regarding the …
Higher gas prices could be ahead after latest Saudi oil production cut
American drivers could be staring another jump in gasoline prices in the face and it is coming just as the summer driving season is here. Saudi Arabia announced another cut in oil production, meaning it will be sending less oil to the global economy. In turn, the move is seen as an effort to …
Gasoline prices decline in Oklahoma and the U.S.
Despite the surge in travel over the long Memorial Day weekend, the national average for a gallon of decreased by one cent since last week to $3.56 per gallon. In Oklahoma, the gas average is $3.22 today, down two cents in the last week and $1.04 lower an one year ago. According to new …
Oil and gas rig counts keep falling in Oklahoma and other states
See those rigs stacked beside one another. They are not drilling for anything. They are in storage as the nation saw another dramatic drop in the number of oil and gas rigs drilling for oil and gas across the nation. Another week. Another dramatic drop in the number of active oil and gas drilling …
Forever chemicals in New Mexico lead to lawsuit by Attorney General
A lawsuit has been filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez over the manufacture of those so-called “forever chemicals” in his state. Torrez accused 21 companies of contributing to environmental contamination in his state and knowing for decades how dangerous the compounds are to humans. “We have to step forward and try to …
Friday proved to be a strong day for crude oil and Oklahoma energy stocks
Crude oil and Oklahoma energy stocks recorded a strong trading day on Friday as crude prices rose 2% while stocks rose 5, 6 and 7% in some local cases. Crude went up after Congress passed the debt ceiling deal that averted a government default. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 2.3% or $1.64 to close at …