Author's posts
Senate to hold confirmation hearing on EPA assistant administrator
One of the U.S. Senate hearings on Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe’s schedule this week is the nomination of Alexandra Dunn to be assistant administrator of the EPA. She was nominated in August and the hearing will be held Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Oklahoma time. Dunn is the current regional administrator for the EPA’s Region 1 …
Chopper company that serves offshore drillers files for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy for a helicopter-leasing business that serves offshore oil drillers around the globe. Waypoint Leasing Holdings Ltd. has flown itself into bankruptcy court and at the same time, put itself on the auction block. Waypoint is the business backed by Michael Dell and George Soros and filed for bankruptcy on Sunday. It has focused on …
Ouch! $2.2 million fine for Texas waste disposal company
The state of New Mexico has come down hard on a Texas-based oilfield driller and waste disposal company, fining the firm $2.2 million for pollution violations. The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department announced a state district court order that Siana Operating, based in Midland, Texas had to also cease disposal activities and …
Fingers crossed at NASA for successful Mars landing
To say NASA Administrator and former Oklahoma Congressman Jim Bridenstine is pumped about the Mars landing is an understatement. On Sunday, he tweeted: “Years in the making, tomorrow is the moment of truth for @NASAInSight. We’re landing on Mars! Don’t miss it!” But it might be hours or days before NASA knows how the InSight …
Another slide in Oklahoma City gasoline prices
GasBuddy reports gasoline prices in Oklahoma City dropped another 3 cents in the past week, reaching a new average of $2.08 a gallon at the pumps. The firm conducted a survey of 669 stations in the Oklahoma City metro to reach the new conclusion, adding that the drop compares with the national slide of nearly …
Quiet time on capitol hill for Rep. Mullin and others on House Energy and Commerce Committee
It’s been a quiet month for Oklahoma Congressman Markwayne Mullin and others who sit on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. Very few hearings were held in November as Mullin and others wrapped up their election campaigns, Mullin of course, winning re-election to another two-year term. But a check of the various subcommittees showed …
Another deadline approaches in wind farm talks aimed at protecting Oklahoma Air Bases
Weeks after NextEra Energy was accused of violating Oklahoma’s new wind farm law by pushing ahead with construction near Hinton, the firm is in continued talks with the Defense Department and the state. Attorney General Mike Hunter announced last week the DOD and NextEra again extended their deadline to reach a mitigation plan on a …
Chesapeake’s $3 billion acquisition not the last in the shale plays
If some of the energy experts are right, Chesapeake Energy’s recent $3 billion purchase of WildHorse Resource Development in Texas isn’t the last of the acquisitions of big shale players. And don’t forget Canada’s Encana Corp. buying Newfield Exploration Co. for $55 billion earlier this month. They expect many more to follow in the coming …
Groundbreaking for new Oklahoma Insurance headquarters
Governor Mary Fallin could take part in one of her last groundbreakings as leader of Oklahoma this week. She will attend the groundbreaking ceremony Monday afternoon for the new home of the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Joining her will be Insurance Commissioner John Doak and the man elected to replace him, Glen Mulready. Ceremonies will be …
ODOT to provide Holiday travelers with improved travel help
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is serving up an early present to holiday travelers with two new tools to help them make travel decisions. “The department is debuting the ability to find all of ODOT’s online travel tools within one app now available in the Apple App Store. Additionally, the department is adding snow plow …