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Oklahoma tornadoes: BP donates $500K to Moore tornado relief effort

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:59:09 -0500

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MOORE — Oil company BP is donating $500,000 to the tornado relief effort in Moore.

The company said Thursday that $300,000 will come from BP America Inc.

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San Onofre execs made 'Star Trek'-themed video

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:58:38 -0500

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (AP) — Managers at the San Onofre nuclear generating plant made a "Star Trek"-themed safety video two years before the plant was shut down because of damaged water pipes.

U-T San Diego (http://bit.ly/14zpm9G ) says the two-minute segment was filmed in 2010 and starred the plant's former chief nuclear officer dressed as Capt.

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Michigan questions Canadian nuclear waste proposal

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:04:50 -0500

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan lawmakers have questions about a proposed Canadian underground nuclear waste repository near Lake Huron.

A state Senate resolution that was introduced by Democratic Sen.

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News briefs from around Kentucky at 1:58 a.m. EDT

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:00:52 -0500

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The planned expansion of Kentucky's Medicaid program coupled with a push to help the uninsured obtain health coverage could exacerbate the state's shortage of physicians, according to a report released Wednesday.

Deloitte Consulting, a technology firm that's helping to set up the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange, unveiled the report showing Kentucky's 10,475 primary care physicians and specialists are far short of the actual need.

However, the firm concluded that Kentucky would need to find ways to increase the number of doctors and other medical professionals even if it didn't expand medical coverage to more than 600,000 new patients.

The report said Kentucky needs some 3,790 additional physicians, including primary care doctors and specialists, plus 612 more dentists, 5,635 more registered nurses, 296 more physician assistants and 269 more optometrists to meet current demand.

"With this information, we can work with many stakeholders to help address these long-standing issues," said Gwenda Bond, a spokeswoman for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

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Site plan approved for ND natural gas processor

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:31:20 -0500

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — An energy company has received approval to start construction of a new natural gas processing plant in northwestern North Dakota.

The Oneok company says the plant will cost $160 million and be able to process 100 million cubic feet of natural gas each day.

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Southern Co. CEO defends Miss. power project

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:02:04 -0500

PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (AP) — The head of Southern Co.

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Peters urges probe of Detroit oil waste storage

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:34:56 -0500

DETROIT (AP) — Michigan U.S. Rep. Gary Peters has taken to the House floor to criticize the storage of piles of an oil-refining byproduct known as petroleum coke along the Detroit River.

The suburban Detroit Democrat failed to win approval for an amendment to legislation on the Keystone Pipeline requiring an investigation of the storage.

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Retiring coal-fired plants in Nevada passes Senate

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:14:08 -0500

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — The Nevada Senate endorsed NV Energy Inc.'s plan Wednesday to retire coal-fired power plants and pave the way for the state's biggest electrical utility to transition to more renewable sources.

After several revisions, SB123 was approved unanimously and now moves to the Assembly.

Under the bill, NV Energy will eliminate at least 800 megawatts of coal-fired electric generating capacity by Dec.

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In top coal state, gas to fuel next power plant

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:24:26 -0500

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The next major power plant to be built in the nation's top coal-mining state will be fueled by natural gas.

Black Hills Corp.

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Business Highlights

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:06:19 -0500

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Median CEO pay rises to $9.7 million in 2012

NEW YORK (AP) — CEO pay has been going in one direction for the past three years: up.

The head of a typical large public company made $9.7 million in 2012, a 6.5 percent increase from a year earlier that was aided by a rising stock market, according to an analysis by The Associated Press using data from Equilar, an executive pay research firm.

CEO pay, which fell two years straight during the Great Recession but rose 24 percent in 2010 and 6 percent in 2011, has never been higher.

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A divided Fed wrestles with when to slow bond buys

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is torn over when to slow its aggressive efforts to stimulate the economy.

Its uncertainty burst into view Wednesday, when Chairman Ben Bernanke testified to Congress in the morning and the Fed in the afternoon released the minutes of its last policy meeting.

Stock prices gyrated through the day as investors struggled to determine whether the Fed might soon pull back — even gradually — on its extraordinary efforts.

The Fed is buying the bonds to try to ease long-term borrowing costs, encourage borrowing and accelerate growth.

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Va senators introduce offshore drilling bill

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:57:58 -0500

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia's U.S. senators have introduced a bill to allow offshore energy leases off the coast of Virginia.

Democratic Sens.

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BC-Markets-At-A-Glance

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:30:27 -0500

NEW YORK (AP) — A snapshot of major stock and commodities market indicators Wednesday:

669 advances, 2,417 declines

Most Active: Bk of Amer 13.31 —0.13

Comp Sales: 4,258,659,349

Arca Comp Sales: 1,675,235,087

630 advances, 1,868 declines

Most Active: Microsoft 34.61 —0.24

Nasdaq Sales: 2,123,829,059

DJ Industrials: 15,307.17 —80.41

S&P 500: 1,655.35 —13.81

NYSE Comp: 9,508.05 —90.22

Nasdaq Comp: 3,463.30 —38.82

Wheat: Jul 6.8850 +.08

Corn: Jul 6.5850 +.1850

Soybeans: Jul 14.9425 +.16

Gold: Apr 1367.60 —10.20

Silver: Apr 22.458 +.016

Platinum: Apr 1469.20 +10.80

Copper: Apr 3.3775 +.0385

Crude Oil: Jul 94.28 —1.90

Heating Oil: Jun 2.8736 —.0554

Gasoline: Jun 2.8194 —.0264

Nat Gas: Jun 4.186 —.006

More ethanol leaking after Iowa train derailment

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:26:13 -0500

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials say more ethanol is leaking into the Little Cedar River following a train derailment east of Charles City.

The state Department of Natural Resources says workers trying to recover ethanol cars and locomotives on Wednesday realized a second ethanol car was leaking.

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Editorial Roundup: Excerpts from recent editorials

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:18 -0500

Excerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States and abroad:

May 22

Boston Herald on the Oklahoma tornado:

This nation has been pinballing from one tragedy to another over the past half-year, and at times it seems we are simply incapable of absorbing more grief.

From the devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy to the shooting in Newtown, Conn., to the bombing here at the Boston Marathon to the latest — the tornado that on Monday literally leveled the city of Moore, Okla.

Yes, the city of 55,000 today lies in ruins.

But improbable as it may seem now, the community of Moore, Okla., remains intact.

That distinction was made perfectly clear in the sight of first responders — official and otherwise — working through the night on Monday to clear the rubble that was once an elementary school, in the slim hope of finding more survivors.

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Oil falls near $94 on small drop in supplies

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:02:31 -0500

The price of oil fell near $94 a barrel Wednesday as the nation's oil supply fell less than expected and demand for gasoline remained weak.

Benchmark crude for July delivery declined $1.90 to close at $94.28 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The Energy Department said U.S. crude oil supplies declined by 300,000 barrels last week to 394.6 million barrels.

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Boulder County won't extend drilling moratorium

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:29:40 -0500

LONGMONT, Colo. (AP) — At least two northern Colorado communities are looking to impose strict regulations on oil and gas drilling instead of stopping it all together.

On Tuesday, Boulder County commissioners voted against extending a moratorium on new wells that is set to expire June 10 and instead will try to phase in planned oil and gas development in the eastern half of the county.

The Longmont Times-Call reported (http://bit.ly/12Muh6D) that commissioners could limit the number of locations where drilling could occur.

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Oklahoma tornadoes: Oklahoma energy companies contribute millions to relief efforts

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:44:05 -0500

BY JAY F. MARKS jmarks@opubco.com

Some of Oklahoma's largest energy companies are digging deep to aid in recovery efforts after this week's deadly tornadoes.

Chesapeake Energy Corp., Devon Energy Corp., Continental Resources Inc., ONEOK Inc.

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Laredo selling Anadarko Basin acreage in $438M deal

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:42:03 -0500

BY JAY F. MARKS jmarks@opubco.com

TULSA — Laredo Petroleum Holdings Inc. is moving out of the Anadarko Basin.

Laredo announced Tuesday it is selling about 104,000 acres of leasehold and associated infrastructure in western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle to affiliates of Houston-based EnerVest Ltd.

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Oklahoma energy companies contribute more than $6.5 million to relief efforts

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:08:07 -0500

BY JAY F. MARKS Business Writer jmarks@opubco.com

Some of Oklahoma's largest energy companies are digging deep to aid in recovery efforts after this week's deadly tornadoes.

Chesapeake Energy Corp., Devon Energy Corp., Continental Resources Inc.

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Chesapeake donates to American Red Cross

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:58:09 -0500

Chesapeake Energy Corp. on Monday announced it would donate $1 million to the American Red Cross to aid in rescue and recovery efforts after the Moore tornado.

The Oklahoma City-based oil and natural gas company also is organizing hundreds of employee volunteers to help tornado victims as part of Operation Blue, Chesapeake's annual campaign to encourage volunteerism.

“Our hearts go out to the victims of these terrible storms, and Chesapeake and our employees are doing all we can to aid in the disaster recovery efforts in our hometown community,” Chesapeake Chairman Archie Dunham said.

“We are providing all possible assistance using Chesapeake equipment, machinery and resources and many of our people are already mobilized under the Operation Blue banner and assisting in the rescue efforts.

“We urge other local businesses and citizens to pitch in to help during our community's hour of need.”

Operation Blue, which allows Chesapeake employees to volunteer on company time, is being expanded to help the community after this week's deadly tornadoes.

Chesapeake employees have contributed more than 100,000 volunteer hours in the company's operating areas over the past three summers.

From Staff Reports

Public Service Co. of Oklahoma touts 'Oklahoma solution' to regional haze as industrial consumers fear costs

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:33:10 -0500

BY PAUL MONIES pmonies@opubco.com

Calling it an “Oklahoma solution” that uses state-produced energy resources, representatives of Tulsa-based utility Public Service Co.

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Gasoline prices hit record high in Oklahoma City

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:04:13 -0500

BY JAY F. MARKS jmarks@opubco.com

It's not a good time to be driving in Oklahoma City.

The average price of gasoline in Oklahoma's capital reached a record high Monday for the second consecutive day.

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Chesapeake Energy Corp. names new CEO

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:04:07 -0500

BY ADAM WILMOTH awilmoth@opubco.com

Chesapeake Energy Corp. shares jumped nearly 3 percent Monday after the Oklahoma City energy company tapped Anadarko Petroleum executive Robert Douglas Lawler as its new CEO.

Lawler, 46, is senior vice president of international and deepwater operations for Houston-based Anadarko, which in 2006 bought Oklahoma City-based Kerr-McGee Corp.

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3 foreign companies invest in U.S. LNG export project

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:52:01 -0500

Mitsui and Mitsubishi of Japan, and GDF Suez of France each plan to take a stake in a gas export plant being developed at Hackberry, La., the New York Times reports.
International companies, responding to a ravenous global appetite for natural gas, particularly in Japan and Europe, want access to shale gas from the United States, which has emerged as an important new source over the last few years.
But because the United States has only recently shifted from being a gas importer to being self-sufficient in the fuel, the government has not yet agreed to allow exports except in a few cases and to the 20 countries with which it has free trade agreements, including Panama and Costa Rica.

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Soaring gasoline prices hurt Oklahoma City area retailers

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:13:19 -0500

BY ADAM WILMOTH awilmoth@opubco.com

Stephen Ballard on Friday raised the price at his two Purcell gas stations to $3.99 a gallon, a level he's reached three times before, but never crossed.

“That's a psychological barrier,” he said.

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Oklahoma Attorney General asks to delay hearing into PSO plan for regional haze

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:19:08 -0500

BY PAUL MONIES pmonies@opubco.com

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has asked the state's environmental agency to delay a hearing Monday on a new plan by Tulsa-based utility Public Service Co.

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OGE Energy shareholders vote for directors, additional shares

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:51:14 -0500

BY PAUL MONIES pmonies@opubco.com

OGE Energy Corp. shareholders voted to increase the number of authorized shares to make way for a two-for-one stock split and gave their assent to 10 board directors at Thursday's annual meeting in Oklahoma City.

OGE Energy, the parent company of Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co., also gave a short update on a partnership between its Enogex unit and the midstream assets of CenterPoint Energy Inc.

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Canada's prime minister says oil coming, with or without pipeline

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:42:07 -0500

By CARA ANNA

NEW YORK — A controversial oil pipeline to the U.S. Gulf Coast “absolutely needs to go ahead,” Canada's prime minister said Thursday, and he warned that the oil will be transported through America one way or another.

Stephen Harper addressed the Keystone XL project, a flashpoint in the debate over climate change, during a visit to New York City.

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Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority discusses plans for new generating plant

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:24:04 -0500

BY PAUL MONIES pmonies@opubco.com

PONCA CITY — Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority plans to begin construction next year on the state's first natural-gas fired power plant since 2011 on property north of Ponca City.

Wind farms have provided most of the added electricity generation capacity in Oklahoma in the last several years, but the Charles D. Lamb Energy Center will be a 103-megawatt plant powered by a simple-cycle turbine using natural gas.

The authority plans to start construction on the $115 million plant by January, with completion expected by spring 2015.

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Oklahoma energy briefs, May 17

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:10:23 -0500

PLUGGING IN

Oil, gas group selects president

State Chamber of Oklahoma executive Chad Warmington has been tabbed as the next president of the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association of Oklahoma.

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