A nearly 4,000-acre wildfire is still burning near Altus in the southwest part of the state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Forestry Service reports the Salt Fork Fire in Jackson County is about 80% contained. It reported the swatch of destruction at 3,656 acres as of Wednesday morning. The fire was still burning near the small …
Stardust Power moves closer to construction
Stardust Power Narrows Losses, Advances Muskogee Lithium Refinery Lithium mining operator Stardust Power Inc. reported its losses in 2025 were less than the previous year and it is making permitting progress to advance toward construction and commissioning of its Muskogee lithium refining project. The developer of battery-grade lithium carbonate released its fourth quarter and year-ended …
Energy Briefs: Hormuz tensions, oil, solar growth
Strait of Hormuz tensions and global oil supply risks The U.S. used 5,000-pound deep penetrator bombs to attack Iranian missile sites in the Strait of Hormuz. At present, following Iranian threats to target ships, many vessels are avoiding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for the global energy market, through which about 20% of …
$2.9 billion gas plant proposed in Arkansas
Arkansas Cooperative Seeks Approval for $2.6B Natural Gas Power Plant Arkansas regulators have been asked to approve construction of a $2.6 billion natural gas power plant by Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Corporation. The nonprofit filed its application this week and explained it wants to build the plant in Newark in northeast Arkansas to replace aging …
War with Iran keeps oil prices over $100
Crude oil prices rose nearly 3% on Tuesday with oil in the U.S. going up to more than $96 and Brent crude, the global benchmark, settling at more than $103 a barrel. Gasoline prices in the U.S. continued their slow climb to reach an average of $3.79 as U.S. and Israeli warplanes pounded Iran …
Cherokee Nation studies impact of data centers
The Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma has launched a study into data centers as principal chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. ordered in recent weeks. In signing an executive order to create the nine-member Task Force on Data Centers, he said, “Hard questions should be asked, and answers and transparency are key.” Chief Hoskin called it “critical …
Hundreds of wells illegally operating in Oklahoma?
A journalist who spent the past few years making public records requests of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission says he found a state-funded study revealed nearly 600 wells operating illegally in the state, but regulators did nothing about the problem. Writing for The Frontier and ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network, author Nick Bowlin the report entitled …
Trimmed field of Corporation Commission candidates
Who’s left so far as candidates? Ray’s decision leaves two candidates who have filed with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission and created campaign committees and accepted campaign contributions. They are State Sen. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, and Justin Hornback of Broken Arrow. Campaign contribution reports on file with the Ethics Commission show Sen. Boles with …
Permian basin produced 44% of nation’s oil in December
EIA refines estimates for Permian tight oil and shale gas production A change in the way the U.S. measures oil and gas production in the Permian Basin, the most prolific shale area in the country, shows production was still incredibly rich and high. A new update from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed the Basin …
Bill authorizing Arkansas River Bridge passes House
Days after he announced his candidacy for the First Congressional District in Tulsa, Rep. Mark Tedford of Jenks is also celebrating state House approval of his proposed new bridge across the Arkansas River near Bixby. His House Bill 2123 passed the House on a vote of 84-3 and now moves to the Senate for further …