Author's posts
Lankford defends tax cut
Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford defends a bill he is co-sponsoring to cut taxes on gasoline costs, even though the measure would also eliminate a tax that helps finance cleanup of Superfund sites in Oklahoma and other states. “If this bill passed, it would help bring gas prices lower without compromising health or safety,” he …
Where are the EV jobs?
Reports suggest the $4 billion Panasonic EV battery plant won by Kansas four years ago in competition with the state of Oklahoma isn’t living up to its promises of creating 8,000 jobs. A report by the Kansas Informer indicated that so far, only about 1,400 employees are working at the plant near Kansas City. …
Developer bars media
Groups are complaining how they were kept out of a Yukon data center meeting this week. What was described as a community Q&A meeting hosted by data center developer Beltline Holdings turned into a private event, according to News 4 TV and a social media posting by Oklahoma Source. The TV news crew was …
Oilfield thieves hit Oklahoma
Oil field thefts are being reported in northeast Oklahoma’s Osage County and the sheriff’s office wants some public help in finding the culprits. The thefts don’t involve oil but rather oilfield equipment, as the Osage County Sheriff showed this week in a Facebook posting. The social-media posting indicated the thefts happened at oilfield locations in …
Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen—a plus side of data centers?
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1653970085744859 Could Oklahoma reap the rewards of all the data center pushback happening in OTHER regions across America? We’ll explain how in this edition of Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen. . Plus an explanation of the current drama playing out right now at the corporation commission over electricity rate hikes.
Crude oil hits $118 a barrel
The stalled peace talks between Iran and the U.S. along with the continued Naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz sent crude oil prices soaring even more on Wednesday. The closure continues amid the impasse between the two countries at war with each other. Another impact was the Tuesday decision by the United Arab Emirates …
PSO battles for approval
Oklahoma regulators spent nearly three and one-half hours this week listening to Public Service Company’s request for nearly $1.2 billion in added electric power generating operations and to those opposing the projects. Corporation Commissioners started consideration of PSO’s rate application formally known as Case No. PUD2025-000064, a proposed $1.255 billion addition of new power resources. serving 562,000 customers …
New bridge contract
A Texas based construction company is the firm chosen by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission for the $408 million construction of a replacement for the Roosevelt Bridge that spans Lake Texoma in southern Oklahoma. Zachry Construction Corporation is entering the Oklahoma market and was selected by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to deliver the US-70 Roosevelt Bridge …
Dividend increases at Williams
The dividend declared this week by Williams Cos. represented a 5% increase from a year earlier. The company’s board of directors approved a regular dividend of $0.525 per share, or $2.10 annualized, on the company’s common stock, payable on June 29, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on June 12, 2026. This …
More challenges by 3 legislators
The three state legislators who challenged the billions of dollars in fuel charges passed to ratepayers following the 2021 winter storm Uri have filed more appeals with the State Supreme Court. A release made this week from the Oklahoma House stated that Reps. Tom Gann, R-Inola, Kevin West, R-Moore, and Rick West, R-Heavener, have filed two …