Energy & Environment
Lawmakers consider starting nuclear energy program in Oklahoma
Advocates urged state lawmakers to consider bringing nuclear energy technology to Oklahoma as the federal government has set aside billions in an effort to incentivize expansion efforts nationwide. Local energy experts though warned embracing nuclear energy technology would increase utility rates. They also raised questions about safety. Oklahoma relies on wind, natural gas and coal […]
Biden vetoes bill that would remove lesser prairie chicken protections
U.S. President Joe Biden vetoed legislation meant to undermine federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken, a previously ubiquitous bird that is now endangered in several states. The legislation, introduced by U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, and co-sponsored by fellow Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran and four other senators, sought to undo a listing by […]
Foreign ownership of U.S. farmland probed at U.S. Senate hearing
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators said during a Wednesday hearing that foreign ownership of U.S. farmland is a national security threat that should be further examined. The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry discussed foreign ownership of the nation’s agricultural lands, with testimony from experts and Senate colleagues who have been taking the lead […]
Oklahoma dam regulators call on Congress to continue safety program
State regulators are calling on Congress to continue a program that helps ward off dam failures in Oklahoma. The National Dam Safety Program works with states to support local dam failure prevention programs. But it is set to expire on Sept. 30, Oklahoma water resource officials said this week. The federal program was adopted in […]
‘It’s an emergency.’ Midwest towns scramble as drought threatens drinking water.
SEDAN, Kan. — James Rainbolt typically can tackle most problems at his rural water plant with some extra time or money. But he can’t fix this. “I just can’t make it rain,” he said. Like others across Southeast Kansas, Rainbolt remains helpless as he watches a persistent drought dry up the local water supply. He […]
Advocates push for increased hemp regulations in Oklahoma
Experts are urging state lawmakers to pass legislation that would increase regulation of the state’s industrial hemp industry. Processing plants could move forward with the right state policies and infrastructure in place, said Bruce Niemi, president of the Oklahoma Industrial Hemp Foundation. The nonprofit advocates for increased development of hemp in rural areas. Niemi pressed […]
USDA awards grants to help Oklahoma businesses lower energy costs
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma State University will receive federal grant money for a program that helps businesses reduce their energy costs. OSU will receive a grant of just under $100,000 to revive a Rural Energy Assessment Center on its Stillwater campus. The center will conduct energy audits to help rural small businesses and agricultural producers […]
Oklahoma officials waiting for word about billion dollar hydrogen hub plan
OKLAHOMA CITY — The state continues to bet that it can be a national leader in the growing hydrogen sector, but officials are still waiting to find out whether Oklahoma will get a coveted federal designation and access to billions in federal funding. At stake is a federal “hydrogen hub” designation from the U.S. Department […]
Winter is coming and the U.S. grid remains vulnerable to power plant failures
From winter storms to sweltering summer heat, there’s a consensus among experts that increasing extreme weather, a shifting electric generation mix, delays in getting new power generation projects connected and the difficulties in getting new transmission lines and other infrastructure built all pose an increasing risk to the grid. At U.S. Senate committee hearings as […]