Critics of federal government overreach often cite “unfunded mandates” forced upon states and local municipalities. One such unfunded mandate is one from the Environmental Protection Agency which forced Oklahoma City to implement a monthly drainage fee beginning in 1995. As a result, every month, when water bills are sent to Oklahoma City residents, part …
Oil and gas revenue surge boosts New Mexico revenues
In a state where its Democratic governor and legislature leaders try their best to put the oil and gas industry under “green energy” control, New Mexico just reported a record $8 billion in state revenues last year. They also are quick to admit it was largely due to the booming oil and natural gas …
Colorado Attorney General fights oil train project
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser joined the fight against a proposed Utah rail project that would result in trains carrying crude oil through western Colorado and to the Denver metro area. Weiser sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg asking him to revoke the permit for the 88-mile Uinta Basin Railway that …
Interior Secretary encounters intense questioning by Wyoming congresswoman
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland faced something of an intense grilling recently in a congressional hearing. It occurred during a hearing of the House Natural Resources Committee. Wyoming GOP Congresswoman Harriet Hageman put Haaland on the spot with a question about “energy poverty,” to which Haaland replied she didn’t understand the term. The exchange led …
NextEra Energy beats 1Q estimates with more than $1 billion in net income
NextEra Energy, the company with a major investment in wind farms in Oklahoma, had another profitable quarter as it reported net income of $1.1 billion. The Florida-based company has 15 operational wind centers in the state with a $5 billion investment. In the first quarter of 2023, the company’s revenue rose to $6.72 billion …
Right of First Refusal debate grows in other states
The debate over an effort in the Oklahoma legislature to expand the state’s Right of First Refusal law grew to a whimper last month when one of two remaining bills was amended and stronger ROFR rights were removed. Still, Oklahoma has a ROFR law and is one of 11 states with such an act. …
Siemens opens EV charger plant in Dallas suburb
Carrollton, Texas, a north Dallas suburb is the home of a new Siemens manufacturing plant where electric vehicle chargers will be built. The German-based company, one with wind manufacturing operations in Hutchinson, Kansas and in Iowa, said the plant is the company’s second U.S. manufacturing facility for EV chargers reported WFAA TV in Dallas. …
Enel confirms Oklahoma is its top candidate for solar panel factory
Confirmation that Oklahoma is the leading candidate for a major U.S. solar panel and cell factory came this week from Italian utility Enel SpA. The company issued a statement about the plant that will be one of the largest to produce solar cells in the U.S. “We have identified Oklahoma as the leading candidate …
Other energy headlines
** An explosion and fire at the Seneca Petroleum petroleum refinery in suburban Chicago killed one person and injured a second Tuesday morning, authorities said. ** Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., says he would support the repeal of a sweeping bill he negotiated with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., last year that includes major climate, health and …
Mitchell Talks Energy
This week on “Mitchell Talks Energy,” Scott Mitchell and OK Energy Today’s Jerry Bohnen discuss the politics of energy. Specifically, they discuss the divide between the Biden Administration and environmentalists over policies designed to support European allies with LNG exports.