The Latest in Oklahoma: August 15, 2025
A&A Advocates
A long-stalled industrial park in Chickasha is being revitalized with the development of Oklahoma’s first private, “behind-the-meter” natural gas power plant, planned to support a new data center and other energy-intensive industries. California businessman Chet Hitt purchased the park with plans to create about 3,000 jobs by attracting smaller manufacturers, particularly in aerospace, while avoiding overreliance on a single large employer. Partnering with Oklahoma City investor Bond Payne, the project leverages new state legislation allowing such private plants and aims to generate up to 2 gigawatts of power. Construction could begin within 18 months of securing a tenant, with recruitment efforts targeting businesses looking to relocate from states with higher costs and stricter regulations.
A new Oklahoma law, created through Senate Bill 132, sets a phased timeline for operators to plug natural gas wells that have not produced for at least 20 years, aiming to curb environmental damage and reduce the state’s growing number of “orphan” wells. Operators must reduce these long-idle wells by 25% by 2028, 50% by 2031, and fully plug them by 2035, while wells inactive for fewer than 20 years must have a 10-year plan for plugging or reactivation. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission will oversee enforcement, with plugging costs averaging around $30,000 per well. Lawmakers say the measure balances responsible resource development with environmental stewardship and prevents operators from walking away from their plugging responsibilities.
The sudden repeal of federal tax credits for wind and solar projects by President Trump has sparked a nationwide rush to complete renewable energy developments before the incentives expire. Under the new law, projects must start construction by July 4, 2026, and be operational by the end of 2027 to qualify for the credits, a sharp change from the 2030s timeline under the Inflation Reduction Act. Industry leaders warn the loss of credits could kill or delay projects, raise electricity rates by up to 18% by 2035, and shift investment toward states with renewable energy mandates. While many expect a short-term surge in activity, they say the long-term clean energy transition will slow, though market demand for new electricity will continue to drive solar, wind, and battery storage development.
Oklahoma lawmakers are exploring adding state oversight into homeless shelters. Sen. Lisa Standridge and Rep. Kevin West will host an interim study this fall to consider potential state and local standards, citing constituent concerns over safety and cleanliness. While supporters say oversight could ensure shelters operate safely and provide avenues for public complaints, critics warn it could create barriers to services and add unnecessary bureaucracy. Shelter leaders emphasize that any new regulations should be based on best practices and accompanied by funding to avoid burdening operations.
Visits to Oklahoma food pantries have surged as hunger-fighting organizations brace for cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under legislation signed by President Trump.Advocates estimate Oklahoma could lose about $300 million annually after 2027— roughly 20% of current spending — through expanded work requirements, penalties for administrative errors, and higher state cost shares. Food bank leaders warn the cuts will strain nonprofits, increase demand, and potentially reduce surplus food donations as retailers adjust.
Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, and Rep. Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston, have been selected for the 2025 class of the Milbank Fellows Program, a national fellowship for state leaders working to improve health outcomes. They are among 24 policymakers chosen nationwide for the yearlong program, which offers leadership training, expert guidance, and in-depth discussions on health policy. Roe, a nurse and nurse practitioner with over 40 years of experience, chairs the House Public Health Committee, while Cantrell, a former county commissioner, serves as vice chair of the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee. Both lawmakers say the fellowship will help them address health disparities, improve access to care, and strengthen health and human services in Oklahoma.
Interim Studies
The interim study period began on August 1, 2025 and will end November 6, 2025.
Click to view the House and Senate interim studies.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“He came at other people with an outstretched hand, not a clenched fist,” former President Bill Clinton said of former Oklahoma Governor George Nigh at his memorial service. “He honestly believed that public life could be decent and honorable and that people could be helped, not so much with a hand out as with a hand up.”