Author's posts
AARP warns utilities—expect a fight over rate hike requests
AARP Oklahoma made it clear this week, it will not stop fighting the rate hikes of utilities in the state. OG&E and PSO can expect a battle before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Oklahoma State Director Sean Voskuhl told members during a Thursday Facebook presentation, it’s like a “whack-a-mole” fight. “We’ve been fighting unfair utility …
Tenth District manufacturing slumped again in Oklahoma and other states
A new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City stated that manufaturing activity in the Tenth District which includes Oklahoma fell again in April. Chad Wilkerson, senior vice president at the bank said based on the survey of companies in the region, it appears expectations for future ativity remained flat. Company leaders …
Competitive bidding bill targeting a top state agency sent to Gov. Stitt
The same week Oklahoma State Auditor Cyndi Byrd released a report that was highly critical of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, a bill designed to put more restrictions on OMES was passed in the legislature and sent to the Governor. House Bill 3057 is now in the hands of Gov. Kevin Stitt. …
Arkansas legislators consider stricter regulations of crypto mines
Crypto miners in Arkansas are being targeted by state legislators. The Arkansas Senate voted this week in support of two bills to regulate cryptocurrency mining operations in the state. One measure, SB78, would place noise limits on crypto mines. It would also prohibit them from being owned by foreign companies and let local governments …
Slumping residential solar power industry
Solar power in Oklahoma never seems to have made the kind of major steps or growth seen in the state’s wind industry. Some residential or rooftop solar efforts are reported but it doesn’t appear to be a widespread acceptance. There might be a good reason for it. Ask the people at Sunpower Corp. in …
Oklahoma and Tulsa get failing grades in newest State of the Air report from Lung Association
The American Lung Association’s annual “State of the Air” report for 2024 claims 39% of Americans still live in places with failing grades for unhealthy air conditions and that includes residents of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Many might think the constant winds that sweep across the state would prevent much air pollution, but the …
Gov. Stitt joins other GOP state leaders telling Biden to life his LNG freeze
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt was among 25 Republican Governors who wrote the White House this week asking the President to remove his freeze on permits for LNG export projects. “As governors, we are very concerned by the Biden Administration’s move to pause approvals of new liquified natural gas (LNG) export projects, especially after Iran’s …
Notary Public bill sent to Governor
Legislation penalizing notaries public who fail to identify the person signing the document has been sent to the governor’s desk. Rep. Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks, passed Senate Bill 556 through the Oklahoma House of Representatives Wednesday morning. If signed into law, any notarial officer who fails to make a good faith effort to identify the person …
Permanent daylight saving time bill sent to Oklahoma governor
(AP Photo/Charles Krupa, file) Gov. Kevin Stitt now has the decision to make whether Oklahoma should become a Daylight Saving Time state only. Senate Bill 1200 was approved this week in the State House. The measure’s author is Sen. Blake Cowboy Stephens, R-Tahlequah. “This legislation has come as a result of input from Oklahomans, lawmakers, …
Electricity prices dropped last year in Oklahoma
While utilities in Oklahoma are seeking rate hike approval from the Corporation Commission, a report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce notes that the average price per kilowatt hour in Oklahoma actually dropped from 2022 to 2023. The decline in Oklahoma put the state among only 17 states that experienced lower electricity rates last …