Climate change enthusiasts were rocked on their heels in the past week by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s announcement—a roll back of nearly every important climate policy on the books. Zeldin plans to kill climate rules and end grants already under construction and no longer make decisions based on what some call “bedrock scientific findings.” …
1,000-acre solar farm to be located in Arkansas
A major tech player, yet to be identified, will receive power from a new solar farm going up in Arkansas. Treaty Oak Clean Energy recently broke ground on the 100 MW solar energy project that will span more than 1,000 acres. Click here for PV Magazine
Texas legislators turn aside abandoned well issue
An attempt to solve the growing and expensive problem of plugging abandoned wells in Texas has run into opposition in the state legislature. A Texas Senate Committee recently decided against a bill to give regulators more power over oil and gas companies. Click here for Texas Tribune
Price-gouging law in effect after deadly wildfires
Attorney General Gentner Drummond is warning businesses that the Emergency Price Stabilization Act is in effect following the governor’s declaration of emergency for 12 counties devastated by Friday’s wildfires. The law, also referred to as the price gouging statute, prohibits an increase of more than 10 percent for the price of goods and services and …
Wildfires were deadly as they burned across Oklahoma
The “perfect storm” is what Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt called the firestorm that swept across the state on Friday, killing one person, bringing 70 mile an hour winds, overturned tractor-trailer rigs on highways and leaving nearly 300 homes and buildings destroyed by wildfires. After he toured ravaged areas of the state where tens of …
Oklahoma’s oil and gas exploration steps up with increased rig activity
The nation’s oil and gas rig count was unchanged over the past week but exploration in Oklahoma is on the upswing as the number of rigs increased to a total of 51. The latest Baker Hughes Co. rig count showed a gain of 2 rigs in Oklahoma, the only state to record any increase …
Mach Natural Resources reveals 4Q earnings report
Mach Natural Resources recorded lower fourth quarter net income but still intends to press ahead in 2025 with $280 million in capital expenditures on well exploration and development. The Oklahoma City company reported financial and operating results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024. In addition,Mach improved its available free cash …
Missouri legislators approve bill to allow utilities to charge ratepayers for projects under construction
Charging utility customers for projects under construction? It’s what the Missouri legislature approved and sent to the desk of Gov. Mike Kehoe. The Missouri Independent reported the state House recently voted to repeal a more than 50-year old utility consumer protection law. Click here for Missouri Independent
Energy briefs
** Chevron is advancing plans to tap into data center power demand, with the oil major recently entering the permitting and engineering phases for multiple U.S. sites to develop the centers and the electricity to supply them, a company executive told Reuters this week. ** The rapid development of AI data centers is intensifying concerns …
Crude oil prices jumped back on Friday for 1% gain
Not only did crude oil prices bounce back upward on Friday but so did Oklahoma energy stocks—some as much as 6%. Crude prices rose by 1% and stayed nearly unchanged for the week. Analysts explained investors considered the prospects of a fast end to the war in Ukraine which might result in more demand …