Oklahoma site selection news, 12/2011

              December 2011 Oklahoma Site Selection News Oklahoma's Latest Announcment and Business News The Future of CNG in Oklahoma
CNG Rounding Out Oklahoma's Bold New Energy Plan
Speaking from the recent 2011
Oklahoma Governor's Energy
Conference, Governor Mary Fallin
unveiled the Oklahoma First Energy
Plan. Part of that plan is a focus on
enhancing the production of fossil
fuels, such as oil and natural gas,
while supplementing their use with
renewables, such as wind energy.
Gov. Fallin is also leading an effort with the governors of Colorado,
Wyoming and Pennsylvania to persuade U.S. automakers to build
more natural gas-fueled vehicles (NGVs) for use in both state and
corporate fleets. The governors signed a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) stating a desire to purchase NGVs for their
state fleets. Fallin said the MOU lays the groundwork for the
formation of a multi-state request for proposal, where the states
would prepare a formal request to automobile manufacturers to
design an NGV and sell it bulk to participating states. The goal
of the participating states is to target 5,000 NGV purchases per
year, with Oklahoma purchasing or leasing roughly 500 within the
next year.
Gift Allows 0SUIT to Build Compression Training Center
The largest single gift in its history will allow
the Oklahoma State University Institute of
Technology in Okmulgee to build a
state-of-the-art natural gas compression
training center. Chesapeake Energy Corp.
is donating $2 million to allow OSUIT to begin construction of the
34,000-square-foot facility.
The Chesapeake Energy Natural Gas Compression Training Center
will be able to accommodate 115 students, nearly twice as many as
the school's current facilities allow. The project will cost about $4
million. Al Lavenue, president of Chesapeake subsidiary MidCon
Compression, said the industry needs skilled workers like the ones
who are trained at OSUIT.
Oklahoma City Community College Currently Offers
Two Programs for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
One is a state certification program for auto mechanics that teaches
all the safety information and general information. In Oklahoma,
mechanics are required to be certified to be able to work on CNG
vehicles. The second program is an IMPCO Technologies
Manufacturer's Installer program that teaches technicians how to put
a CNG system on a vehicle that was built to run on gasoline.
Oklahoma by the Numbers
#1 Lowest Unemployment
Bureau of Labor Statistics (OKC)
#3 Producer of Natural Gas
OERB
#3 New Wind Capacity
American Wind Energy Association
#6 Cost of Doing Business
CNBC
Meet Our People
Jessika Leatherbury recently joined the National Recruiting Team as
an Economic Development Specialist. In her role, Jessika will work
with site location efforts, lead development, proposal development,
and trade show and event management. Prior to joining the
Oklahoma Fast Forward Team, Jessika served as the Business and
Industry Development Specialist for the Duncan Area Economic
Development Foundation in Duncan, Oklahoma.
Jessika Leatherbury
405-815-5266
Jessika_Leatherbury@OKcommerce.gov
fast forward
OKLAHOMA
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE