June 2017 archive

The Tax Credits Ignored by 2017 Oklahoma Legislature

As the Oklahoma legislature targeted the wind energy tax credits for new wind farms under construction to be eliminated on July 1, the legislators did not target what could be hundreds of millions of dollars in other tax credits in the state. Under a law created in 2011 the listing of some of those credits …

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Newfield and Chesapeake at NYC Investor Conference

  Major players in Oklahoma’s STACK and SCOOP oil and gas plays were active this week in the J.P. Morgan 2017 Energy Equity Investor Conference in New York City. It was the second year for the energy conference and one of the participants was Houston-based Newfield Exploration, a firm that sought investors by focusing on …

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State Agencies Say Research Shows Fracking is Not a Leading Cause of Earthquakes

A report by two state agencies in Oklahoma says hydraulic fracturing and the completion of oil and gas wells are not a leading contributor to causing earthquakes in the state. The report comes from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and the Oklahoma Geological Survey. It indicated that efforts to manage the potential risk of induced earthquakes …

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Safety Council Hands Out an “F” to Oklahoma

Whether you’re climbing atop a wind tower in western Oklahoma or working on an oil and gas rig, safety is critical for energy operations in the state. Yet a new government report flunks Oklahoma for its efforts to eliminate preventable deaths. The National Safety Council released its annual State of Safety report this week, giving …

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Senators Move to Reauthorize Diesel Engine Program

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe moved this week to reauthorize a government program aimed at retrofitting older diesel engines all in the name of reducing air pollution. He and Democratic Senators Tom Carper of Delaware and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island joined with Wyoming GOP Sen. John Barrasso to introduce the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of …

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No Slowdown in Oil and Gas Drilling in Oklahoma

Who’s drilling and where?  A quick check of the Daily Permits report on applications to drill in Oklahoma shows more growth in Oklahoma’s STACK oil and gas play. Jones Energy LLC, based in Austin, Texas is expanding its drilling ventures in the state. Historically, Jones has explored in western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, areas …

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Personal Income Growth Reported in Early 2017 in Oklahoma

In an economy driven mostly by energy, Oklahoma is slowly making a recovery. Figures from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis showed this week that Oklahomans saw their personal income grow at a one percent rate in the first quarter of 2017. And that’s critical to state revenue at a time where the Oklahoma government …

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Lucas Favors EPA Repeal of WOTUS Rule

Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas praised the Trump Administration’s action to withdraw the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, according to a press release issued on Tuesday. “I applaud the Trump administration for moving to repeal the Waters of the U.S. rule,” said Congressman Lucas. “This Obama-era regulation sought to expand federal control over landowners and has …

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Will Monsanto’s Roundup Herbicide Carry California Cancer Warning Label?

California became the first state in the nation on Monday to require a cancer warning label on Monsanto Company’s Roundup chemical herbicide weed & grass killer. State regulatory officials will require Roundup’s main ingredient – glyphosate – to be published on a list of potentially cancerous chemicals effective July 7, according to a report by …

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Inhofe Commends U.S. EPA Repeal of WOTUS Rule

Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe lauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement that it will roll back the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, according to a press release issued on Tuesday. With the new proposed rule issued Tuesday, the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. EPA would return to a system in place …

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