Author's posts
Biosolids bill resurrected in State Senate
The environmental issue of whether the spreading of biosolids or human waste onto Oklahoma farmlands is safe or not was resurrected last week by an Oklahoma Senate Committee. It also revealed distinct differences in how to approach what has become a controversial topic, not just among those fighting the use of the biosolids on farm …
Stalled solar projects because of a lack of buyers
$500M Wyoming Solar Project Delayed Without Buyers Imagine a $500 million solar project being stalled because it cannot locate customers who want the electricity it would generate. No Buyers, No Build for Dutchman Project Fortunately, the developers of the Dutchman Renewable Power Project in Wyoming didn’t follow through with a “build it and they will …
Stardust Power Secures Lithium Supply for Oklahoma
Stardust Power Secures Lithium Supply Deal for Muskogee Refinery Stardust Power Inc., developer of a lithium refining operation in eastern Oklahoma, announced it entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) with a strategic counterparty for the supply of up to 15,000 metric tons per annum of lithium carbonate equivalent in the form of lithium chloride. …
Oil prices rose after Trump put naval blockade into effect
The day President Trump implemented his naval blockade of oil tankers coming and going from the Strait of Hormuz, crude oil prices first surged to more than $100 a barrel, then retreated to settle under the mark. The blockade was Trump’s reaction to the collapse of peace talks over the weekend. It countered Iran’s restrictions …
Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen—poultry and politics
https://www.facebook.com/reel/797109796803265 In this edition we cover how the poultry lawsuit is worsening the outlook for local producers. Additionally, is Lord Palmerston’s phrase that “In politics, there are no ‘permanent friends……only permanent interests’ an apt description of the now fractured relationship between two politicians who once attempted to jointly raise their profile nationally by championing …
US and Oklahoma rig totals dropped in past week
The nation’s rig count fell by three in the past week and Oklahoma’s loss of drilling activity accounted for two of the rigs. The latest Baker Hughes Rig Count showed the U.S. total fell to 545 and Oklahoma’s number of active oil and gas rigs declined to 42 from the previous week. The U.S. …
PSO $3.2 billion fundraising to be reviewed by regulators
A move by Public Service Company of Oklahoma to raise more than $3 billion to cover costs of its major energy expansion project will be among several items to be reviewed Monday by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. PSO filed the original request in March and explained it wanted to issue up to $3,250,000,000 in senior …
Coalition fights competitive bidding moratorium pushed by utilities
A nationwide alliance of consumer advocates and manufacturers takes issue with the recent request filed by Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company and 8 other utilities in asking federal regulators to remove the competitive bidding requirement for construction of distribution lines for major power grids. It accused them of being “tone deaf” to the affordability crisis. …
Boosting the state’s plumbing industry
The Senate Business and Insurance Committee has unanimously advanced legislation from Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, to recruit more people into the plumbing industry and make it easier for individuals to get licensed in the field. House Bill 3462 creates licensing requirements for a new classification of journeyman plumbers licensed only for residential plumbing. This legislation …
Kansas ranchers fight transmission line
Ranchers and farmers in southern Kansas have come out against a 155-mile transmission line proposed by Evergy, a line that would span from just outside Wichita to Southwest Missouri and enter into Oklahoma for about 20 miles. The project is known in Southwest Power Pool documents as the Branson 345 kV overlay projects. It consists …