Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 • Sunny but considerably cooler. Mid 50s.

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Today’s Memo:

By Clifton Adcock, The Frontier
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Big tech companies have plans to build more than a dozen data centers in Oklahoma to keep up with increased computing needs from artificial intelligence. Some will require enough electricity to power entire cities. Oklahoma’s two largest utility companies are investing more than a billion dollars in new sources of power to keep up with demand and plan to pass on some of the cost to residential customers.

The Frontier found at least 18 data center projects in the state that are either now under construction or awaiting government approvals. The newsroom used public announcements, land records, meeting agendas and air permit applications to compile that count.

The state’s two largest utilities, Oklahoma Gas and Electric and Public Service Company of Oklahoma, have said in regulatory filings that new demand from data centers and other industries will require more power than they can now produce. The utilities are already looking to pass the cost of new transmission lines and power generation on to all customers, including residential users. Though power prices are lower compared to the nation at large, Oklahoma residential customers already pay some of the highest prices for electricity in the region, second behind Texas, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The average per-kilowatt hour price for Oklahoma residents was up 7% in September from the same time the previous year. 

Click to read the full story.

By Amelia Benavides-Colón, Oklahoma Watch
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Governor Kevin Stitt on Tuesday criticized the Trump administration for its elimination of wind energy projects across the country.

In one of his first executive orders this year, President Donald Trump directed a federal review of existing onshore and offshore wind projects to determine whether their leases should be terminated or amended. Under the directive, the Trump administration canceled wind energy projects across the country and stopped issuing new leases.

“You cannot weaponize these things and just for political purposes put your thumb on the scale,” Stitt said while speaking at Semafor’s “Powering America’s Future” event. He did not mention the president by name.

Click here to read the full story.

By Ryan Welton & Jeremy Cook, Oklahoma Memo
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Oklahoma is in the College Football Playoff at No. 8, and the Bedlam Buds guys say the bracket gets “wacky” right after that.

Ryan and Jeremy run through the middle of the field — including Duke’s ACC title-game shakeup, Tulane landing a rematch with Ole Miss, and Miami getting a trip to Texas A&M — before zeroing in on what they see as the biggest controversy: who got in (and who didn’t).

Their take: the committee nailed the top four, but botched the back end. They argue BYU was the team that deserved a spot — not Alabama, and not Notre Dame — and they frame it as a familiar college football story: brand power and helmet logos still move the line.

On OU’s side, they like the Sooners’ path and mentality, calling OU the kind of team that can “win ugly,” embrace underdog pressure, and turn the Alabama game into a statement — not just a playoff appearance.

Editor’s note: Links requiring subscriptions have an *.

Editor’s note: Links requiring subscriptions have an *.

A hand-curated list of the best journalism from across the state:

• BLMOKC leader T. Sheri Dickerson indicted for $3.15 million alleged fraud (NonDoc)

• Georgia Company Still Targets Luther for a Data Center (The Luther Register)

• Proponents refile petition to end some Oklahoma homeowners’ property taxes (Oklahoma Voice)

• As 2025 concludes, Tulsa Housing Authority still without audits for 2021-2024 (NonDoc)

• Oklahoma independents can still vote on minimum wage hike during June primary (Oklahoma Voice)

• OU professors request explanation for graduate assistant’s suspension (News 9)

• Students, professors, and alumni call out OU in Fulnecky fallout (KFOR)

• Oklahoma higher ed committee lacks power to effectively police free speech, advocate says (KGOU)

• 11 Oklahoma colleges, universities get multimillion-dollar gifts from billionaire MacKenzie Scott (KOSU)

• Audit of Western Heights schools finds millions wasted on legal fees, superintendent costs (Oklahoma Voice)

• Tulsa woman, 33, dies after crash on US-75, dropping through open bridge (Tulsa World)*

• Part of State Highway 9 closed after Norman officer critically injured (KOCO)

• Attempted kidnapping at Oklahoma County Courthouse (KOCO)

• Oklahoma utility regulators decline to reconsider OG&E’s latest case (KGOU)

• ‘Five years in the making’ - Tulsa Route 66 Commission preps for centennial year (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Broken Arrow leaders want to build a new airport. They’re studying what it will take. (Tulsa Flyer)

• CHICKEN, CHARITY AND FAMILY: Charlie's Chicken founder, Randolph, dies at 91 (2 News Oklahoma)

• Man impersonates Cherokee County deputy on social media, sheriff warns (2 News Oklahoma)

• Tulsa’s Catholic community prepares to honor La Virgen de Guadalupe through dance, prayer (Tulsa Flyer)

• What is Donald Trump's approval rating in Oklahoma? See latest polls (The Oklahoman)*

• SEC announces OU football's 2026 schedule (OU Daily)

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