The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is planning on vast improvements in the coming six months on its ability to respond to Open Records requests. It’s what Administrator Brandy Wreath informed commissioners Tuesday during their afternoon regular meeting. He explained the agency handled 353 open records requests in 2022 and 132 as of the end of …
Rural phone companies get USDA funding for internet connectivity
Some of the $714 million in funding announced this week from the Biden administration to help rural areas in 19 states connect to the internet will end up in Oklahoma. Loans and grants were awarded to companies in the Oklahoma Panhandle and in the southeast part of the state. Congress approved the funding for …
Manchin tells Treasury department—“follow the law”
West Virginia U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin took another swipe this week at the Biden administration and its proposed rulemaking for new clean vehicle tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act. “Regrettably, it appears that the Treasury has seriously misconstrued the plain language and clear purpose of the critical minerals and battery component requirements in …
Rep. Hern targets vulnerabilities in global supply chain
In a fight against what he calls double taxation, Oklahoma Congressman Kevin Hern filed legislation this week to address unintended consequences of the final foreign tax credit regulations issued by the IRS and the Treasury Department in late 2021. He introduced the Supply Chain Security Act to change the regulations because they risk subjecting U.S. …
Oklahoma launches pilot program to study ways to stop red cedar tree infestations
Oklahoma’s war on infestations of red cedar trees took another step with the signing of a bill to create a more than $3 million pilot program to explore solutions. House Bill 2239 creates the Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Restoration Act, named after former Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Terry Peach who died last year. It …
Oklahoma’s crude oil production to grow in July
A new report by the federal government predicts increased crude oil production in the Anadarko and the Permian Basins from June to July. The U.S. Energy Information Administration, in a report issued this week, said it expects crude oil production in the Anadarko Basin to increase from 439,000 barrels of crude oil a day …
Rep. Brecheen targets government overreach of livestock medicines
Oklahoma Congressman Josh Brecheen thinks the federal government is getting too involved in attempts to restrict certain antibiotics used by farmers and ranchers on their livestock. He and Missouri Republican Rep. Eric Burlison introduced their Stop Government Overreach in Ranching Act this week, a bill to reverse Food and Drug guidance which would restrict the use …
Ovintiv completes $4.2 billion acquisition of holdings in Permian Basin
Ovintiv Inc., the company with a history of large producing oil wells in Kingfisher County, announced this week the completion of its $4.2 billion acquisition of core Midland Basin assets in West Texas. The Permian deal involved its purchase of assets of Black Swan Oil & Gas, PetroLegacy Energy and Piedra Resources. The acquisition …
Texas power grid to set record this week in heat wave
The latest heat wave hitting Texas is likely to result in the state’s grid to receive the heaviest demand for electricity on Friday, June 16. That’s what ERCOT predicted, indicating if it happens, it will smash the record of 80,038 megawatts set eleven months ago according to KHOU TV news in Houston. Click here …
Other energy highlights
** The inflation rate is down slightly but is still two times higher than the Federal Reserve’s ideal rate of 2%, according to Tuesday’s Consumer Price Index Report, which showed that the prices of U.S. goods and services increased 4% in May compared to the previous 12 months. ** In a weekend speech to Georgia Republicans, former President …