Author's posts
Bridenstine’s Resignation Leaves Void on US House Energy Issues
The resignation of Jim Bridenstine as the 1st District U.S. Representative in Oklahoma to head NASA leaves a choice for Gov. Mary Fallin as well as empty membership on energy related house committees. Gov. Fallin cannot appoint someone to succeed Bridenstine in the U.S. House. She can only call for special elections to fill the …
New Look at Valero’s Gas Pumps
Those Valero gas pumps in Oklahoma and around the rest of the country are getting a new look. The San Antonio, Texas-based company is updating them with a new design named Vanguard. The company’s switching to the new design at all convenience stores where its gasoline is sold. The switch involves 7,400 stations in the …
Bridenstine Officially Heads NASA—Sworn In Monday
Jim Bridenstine is no longer an Oklahoma Congressman. He has been sworn in as the new Administrator at NASA. Vice President Mike Pence swore him in during ceremonies on Monday and immediately Bridenstine received a phone call from three U.S. astronauts on board the International Space Station who offered him “hearty congratulations.” Bridenstine is officially …
Hemp Bill Signed into Law in Oklahoma
Governor Mary Fallin on Monday signed a bill that creates a pilot program, overseen by state agriculture officials and Oklahoma’s higher education institutions, allowing permits to grow industrial hemp. It’s a product that can be used in producing oils and biodegradable plastics. House Bill (HB) 2913 creates the Oklahoma Industrial Hemp Agricultural Pilot Program. The …
Wells Fargo Finances More Wind Projects
After California-based Wells Fargo announced a new $200 billion renewable energy financial commitment last week, the company wrapped up $70 million in tax-equity funding for wind projects in Nebraska, Indiana and California. The funding is for Pacific Plains wind farms including a 90 megawatt Cottonwood wind operation in Webster County, Nebraska. Wells Fargo has teamed …
Quarterly Cash Distribution Announced by Williams Partners
Tulsa’s Williams Partners L.P. announced this week a regular quarterly cash distribution of $0.614 per unit for its common unitholders. The company said the new amount is a 2.33 percent increase from the previous quarterly distribution of $0.60 per unit paid in February. The distribution will be payable May 11 to common unitholders of record …
Blueknight Energy Declares Cash Distribution
A 14-cent-a-share cash distribution was announced this week by Oklahoma City-based Blueknight Energy Partners, L.P. The amount was unchanged from the partnership’s fourth quarter 2017 distribution. The distributions are payable May 15, 2018 on all outstanding common and preferred units to unitholders of record as of the close of business on May 4, 2018. The …
Group Drops Petition Drive for Higher Gross Production Taxes on Oil and Gas
The group of oil producers and educators behind a petition drive to increase the gross production tax on oil and gas wells in Oklahoma dropped the effort on Monday. Restore Oklahoma Now, Inc. announced it had withdrawn the petition to raise the GPT on new wells to 7% in order to raise $300 million for …
Oil Prices Rebound on News of Death of Rebel Leader in Yemen
After early declines in Monday trading, oil prices settled higher for the day. Analysts believe concern over potential oil flow disruptions caused by a Saudi-led air strike that killed the head of the Houthi rebels in Yemen was behind the rebound. West Texas Intermediate crude on June contracts were up 24 cents and settled at …
Roundup Ruling to Affect Oklahoma Lawsuits
A ruling by a California appeals court against Monsanto is likely to have an impact on lawsuits brought by a handful of Oklahomans who filed suit claiming the company’s product Roundup caused their cancer. The California court refused to revive Monsanto’s lawsuit which had been filed after the state’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment …