Energy

Energy export value nearing import value

The U.S. trade gap for energy products has become narrower. In 2017, the value of energy imports was about 1.5 times greater than exports, according to data from the U.S….

Murphy Oil forms Gulf of Mexico partnership with Brazilian oil giant

Murphy Oil Corp. has formed a joint venture with Brazil’s multi-national oil conglomerate to develop a deepwater Gulf of Mexico project that is expected to bolster the Arkansas oil company’s…

Heating bills to rise this winter, natural gas supply to hit 13-year low

Household heating bills in the United States are expected to be higher this winter (October through March) compared to last winter, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The bills…

Arkansas pump prices hit four-year high, up 37 cents from a year ago

Gasoline prices in Arkansas and the rest of the nation jumped to a four-year high this week as weak U.S. crude inventories have led to higher oil prices as refiners…

Gubernatorial candidates talk energy policy at summit

Gov. Asa Hutchinson and his Democratic Party opponent Jared Henderson got a chance on Tuesday (Oct. 9) to share their visions on Arkansas energy policy before an audience of some…

U.S. produces lighter oil, tight formation production rises

The average density of crude oil produced in the United States has become lighter as domestic production continues to rise, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Average API gravity,…

2018 hurricane season has less effect on oil, gas production

The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season produced 13 named storms as of Oct. 5, including six hurricanes, and the only storm to impact oil and natural gas production has been Tropical…

Business leaders to meet in Little Rock for advanced energy conference

The Arkansas Advanced Energy Association (AAEA) will welcome business leaders, utility executives, policy makers and regulators, and other industry stakeholders to its seventh annual meeting and policy conference Tuesday (Oct….

Natural gas supply, demand rises 12%

U.S. natural gas supply and demand rose 12% in the first half of 2018, from the same period in 2017, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In the first…

Gulf Coast refineries process lighter crude oil from Permian Basin

The density of crude oil that’s processed by U.S. refineries along the Gulf Coast has become lighter since 2008 when the refineries shifted from heavier imported crude oil to lighter…

Coal plants in the SPP used like natural gas plants in other regions

Coal, natural gas and wind are the fuels that account for the majority of electricity generation in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), a Little Rock-based regional transmission organization that covers…

U.S. exports more crude oil than any other petroleum product

Crude oil became the largest U.S. petroleum export in the first half of 2018, with 1.8 million barrels per day of exports, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Exports…

Arkansas Electric Cooperative CEO says coal is ‘no longer king’, consumers are ‘next power plant’

Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. CEO Duane Highley isn’t selling much more electricity these days and he’s happy about it. Highley, who has been at the helm of one of the…

SPP to be reliability coordinator for 15 western utilities

Little Rock-based transmission organization Southwest Power Pool (SPP) announced several western utilities want SPP to provide reliability coordination services for them starting in late 2019. SPP has served as a…

Entergy, Electric Cooperatives crews headed to Carolinas to help with storm relief

Workers from Entergy Arkansas and the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas have mobilized workers to assist in hurricane relief efforts on the East Coast. Entergy Arkansas deployed 100 line workers on…

U.S. to increase LNG export capacity, increase exports

The U.S. Department of Energy announced it has approved Freeport LNG to export up to 2.14 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas as liquefied natural gas (LNG) over…

U.S. surpasses Russia, Saudi Arabia and OPEC nations as world’s largest crude oil producer

The U.S. has moved head of Russia, Saudi Arabia and other OPEC nations earlier this year to become the world’s largest crude oil producer with estimated crude production at 10.9…

Flint Creek Power Plant in Benton County recognized for environmental excellence

Flint Creek Power Plant in Gentry has been awarded Conservation Certification by the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) in recognition of the plant’s commitment to environmental stewardship. American Electric Power (AEP)…

Fayetteville highlighted in report on transition to 100% renewable energy

Environmental organization The Sierra Club has released a report on 10 U.S. cities, including Fayetteville, that have committed to be powered with 100% clean, renewable energy such as wind and…

Fossil fuels generate most electricity, coal market share falls

Fossil fuels continue to be the most common sources of electricity generation in the United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In all but 15 states, coal, natural…

Carnall, Spradling elementary schools in Fort Smith recommended for closure

Chandler Equipment invests $14 million into expansion

Mike Preston wearing a new hat in the business arena

Department of Agriculture implements rice in schools pilot program