When NextEra Energy started work on its 2,000-acre Skeleton Creek solar farm near Enid, it attempted through negotiations to lower its $2.5 million construction permit fee. The company wanted to pay $15,000 but eventually, with enforcement from the State Attorney General’s office, and eventually, through negotiations, managed to pay only $500,000. An investigation by …
No drilling yet in Argentina by Continental Resources
Nearly two months after Continental Resources announced it had signed an agreement to conduct drilling operations in Argentina, the company has yet to see any production. “At the time of this filing, our 2026 activities in Argentina have no production or revenues and represent an immaterial portion of our consolidated assets,” stated the company …
Energy briefs
** Exxon is asking shareholders to approve moving its formal incorporation from New Jersey to Texas, citing a more favorable legal and regulatory environment. New Jersey has the highest corporate tax rate in the nation. ** Advocates and Texas officials in the petrochemical hub of Corpus Christi warn of a “water emergency” within months that could disrupt …
State House approves bill to create natural gas laboratory in Oklahoma
A trip to Washington state last year to visit the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory sparked Rep. Nick Archer to wonder….why shouldn’t Oklahoma have a similar laboratory focused on natural gas and other energy research? It’s the story behind his HB3176 which won passage Tuesday in the House on a 51-37 vote. Archer, a Republican from …
US exports of oil fell in 2025
Despite becoming the world’s biggest producer of crude oil in the past decade, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia, the U.S. exported less oil in 2025 than in 2024, according to a new report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The EIA said annual oil exports from the U.S. fell 3% from the previous year and …
A Democrat joins a Republican in bipartisan effort to protect Oklahoma ratepayers from large energy users
Rep. Amanda Clinton (D-Tulsa)said that she will join Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) as a co-author of House Bill 2992, legislation aimed at protecting Oklahoma electric ratepayers as energy demand from data centers continues to grow across the state. HB 2992 is now eligible to be heard on the House Floor. Clinton previously authored House Bill …
Why Bill Gates nuclear plant approval in Wyoming is important to Kansas
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s recent approval of a Bill Gates nuclear power plant in Wyoming could prove to be critical to a similar project in Kansas. The approved permit was for TerraPower’s Natrium nuclear power plant outside Kemmerer, Wyoming. The Kemmerer Unit 1 plant is the first commercial nuclear reactor to be approved …
Fed Bank says battery storage industry won’t see improvements soon
The future of the U.S. battery industry looked extremely promising several years ago. Consumer interest in electric vehicles (EVs) was rising, and the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, provided incentives for the domestic production of lithium-ion batteries that would power those vehicles. Automakers responded with bold pledges to increase sales of EVs, pledges that were mirrored …
Oil soared to $119 but settled under $100 on Monday
After soaring Monday to hit $119 a barrel, crude oil prices finished down while the military attacks by the U.S., Israel and other middle eastern countries continued against Iran. Reuters indicated early in the session, Brent soared by $26.81 to $119.50 a barrel, and WTI hit a session high of $119.48. Those were the highest …
More severe weather threatens Oklahoma on Tuesday
After severe weather left four people dead in Oklahoma over the weekend, the state is at risk Tuesday for more such weather. The National Weather Service said 7 tornadoes were reported Friday. A woman and her 13-year old daughter were killed Friday when a tornado near Fairview in Northwestern Oklahoma hit their car. Two …