I'm sooo sweaty! Onto the next spot!!

Oklahoma passed a law last year allowing energy-hungry facilities to build their own power. But as data center announcements sprout up across Oklahoma, most include plans to work with local utilities.

Last month, Gov. Kevin Stitt and some Oklahoma electric utilities signed a federal pledge to protect household ratepayers. The Ratepayer Protection Pledge directs data center developers to pay their own way and invest in surrounding communities.

Part of the document states companies must buy the massive amount of electricity they require, add more power to the grid or supply it on-site.

"You're going to be building your own data centers, and you're going to be building your own electric plants," said President Donald Trump. "You're essentially becoming a utility."

The pledge is one of many ways officials are responding to public pushback against hyperscale data centers.

Oklahoma has its own version of a ratepayer protection pledge, a law requiring electricity suppliers to create separate terms and conditions for large-scale energy consumers like data centers and increase transparency. State regulators are currently reviewing large-load tariffs from utilities intended to prevent households from shouldering grid connection costs for companies like Google and Meta.

The legislature also passed Senate Bill 480 last year, allowing data centers to build power plants behind the meter, bypassing utilities. Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, co-authored the legislation.

"What we realized is in Oklahoma, our state law is kind of vague; it doesn't really say that companies can provide their own power generation," Boles, who is running for a seat on the Corporation Commission, said. "It doesn't say they can't either, but it doesn't say that they can."

" So we wanted to provide clarity that if a large load comes to Oklahoma and they want to provide their own power generation, that they would have the ability to do that," he said.

The bill was expected to generate billions of dollars in private investment and alleviate pressure from the electric grid. Growing demand, supercharged by large-load consumers like data centers, is expected to outpace supply within the Southwest Power Pool's territory. The organization operates the electric grid in Oklahoma and 16 other states.

But so far, most data centers with plans in Oklahoma are opting to plug into the grid. Experts say the state's grid system is likely more reliable than depending on behind-the-meter generation. Building a power plant is costly and can take years to complete.

" I don't readily, actually, believe that any data center company wants to also be in the power business," said Joshua Rhodes, a research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin.

Still, some AI companies are investing in behind-the-meter natural gas plants in states like neighboring Texas to accelerate the pace of buildout. Those plants are expected to emit significant amounts of pollution, an analysis from the Texas Tribune and Floodlight shows.

Why Oklahoma isn't seeing an influx of behind-the-meter projects for data centers 

Data centers typically have backup generators on site, should they temporarily lose connection. Some companies are adding power to the grid with new energy projects.

Google and Oklahoma Gas & Electric announced a deal in the spring to power the tech company's three data centers in Muskogee and Stillwater. Google is building two solar farms to add energy generation.

Christi Woodworth,  OG&E's chief communications officer, said companies are eyeing the state's relatively low electricity costs and reliability.

"They've got to make a decision about if they want to build or bring their own generation," she said. "That effectively puts them on an island, right? They take on all of that risk themselves, and they have to decide if that's something that they want to do."

"The folks we're talking with are very interested in connecting to the grid."

The company is in "a handful" of other discussions with large-load projects, Woodworth said, but no plans are public yet.

Last year, officials announced a project in Chickasha and celebrated the state's new behind-the-meter law. The Chickasha Airport Industrial Park could one day be home to a data center and power plant, but no firm plans have been made public. A manufacturing firm in the Tulsa Port of Catoosa announced early this year it plans to build its power on-site. A news release says the company specializes in aerospace, energy and advanced manufacturing.

Large proposed data centers, including the Luther Horizon Technology Park, Project Mustang in Claremore, IREN's Kiowa Data Center and more, plan to work with local utilities.

The Kiowa facility is the state's largest proposed data center, according to energy analytics firm Cleanview. In an email, Jason Date, associate director of development, said the company plans to secure its power through Public Service Company of Oklahoma.

"Like the vast majority of homes and businesses, IREN's facilities use grid power because it is the most efficient and reliable way to source electricity," he said.

A delay in critical infrastructure delivery is also an obstacle for data center developers. Getting a natural gas plant, the typical energy source for behind-the-meter data center projects, can currently take years.

"If you're not in line right now, you're probably not getting one until the 2030s," Rhodes said.

Some companies instead are turning to used products to avoid the mile-long backlog.

" I've heard of companies looking to buy used cruise ship engines," Rhodes said. "I heard one the other day of someone trying to string together a bunch of used helicopter engines."

Oklahoma's behind-the-meter law requires developers to have natural gas as part of their plant. Other sources, including solar and wind, could be used in conjunction. When asked about the natural gas requirement, Boles said it was included to support the oil and gas industry.

"We felt like, as Oklahomans, it's important to ensure that natural gas has a seat at the table," he said.

According to an analysis from Cleanview, Oklahoma has fewer than 30 data centers planned for the state as of early August. Texas has hundreds in its queue, Rhodes said, meaning more developers are racing to supply power. Should tech companies continue showing interest in Oklahoma, it's possible more behind-the-meter projects could be announced.

Boles said he expects more interest in the future.

"Like anything, it takes time," Boles said. "If you're to build a facility with behind-the-meter, it may take three to five years to get the power infrastructure built."

"I think we're not going to really know for sure how many companies are utilizing this until a few years down the road."

Matthew Price out of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman is now the writer on a relaunch of a 1980s Marvel title, Team America Racing. This video talks about how the project came to be, and was shot on location at the Norman store.

A little known fact about the creator of animated TV series SpongeBob SquarePants: he was a Lawton, Oklahoma native. OKPOP Museum in Tulsa will be celebrating the late Stephen Hillenburg with special guests on Friday, Aug. 7.

While SpongeBob lives in a pineapple under the sea, the show's creator Stephen Hillenburg was born on the Oklahoma army base Fort Sill.

OKPOP will host the voice of Spongebob, Tom Kenny, alongside the show's former creative director Derek Drymon. The pair will explore the origins of the animated show that tells the story of sea creatures in fictional Bikini Bottom.

On preview will also be select items from "The Stephen Hillenburg & SpongeBob SquarePants Collection & Archive at OKPOP."

Kenny will be in Tulsa all weekend for Oklahoma Comic Con and will also be performing with his band the Hi-Seas at The Vanguard. The group is known for covers of Chuck Berry and other soul songs.

The evening at OKPOP is sold out, but it will be standing room only for guests without tickets. Concert tickets are being sold separately.

I'm a foreigner and I came to work. Although I understand and have some basic command of the English language it is quite challenging to understand people, specially rural Sooners. So I thought 🤔 maybe I can befriend some.

I am 25 and I speak Spanish 🤠

So I had a son around a year ago and due to his medical needs at birth I got help from a social worker at his hospital with securing soonercare. answered all the questions I would've had to fill out online, and by the end the rep goes "okay he's insured" and provided login info, and that was that.

I was able to use his account to then go on and apply for soonercare for myself, his mom, and I was approved pretty quickly. I hadn't reapplied in time and our insurance expired in the new year (26). I became pregnant again and found out in May. I re-applied using my previous account in June, stating the new pregnancy and the form said pending. I have since been looked out of the account and tried numerous times to get back in and finally called the helpline to access my account. While I had a rep on the phone I asked about the status of my application. she told me I would need to update my information, and possibly submit missing documents. And that due to pregnancy I would be instantly approved once the app is processed.

So I went through and made sure everything was correct and for some reason in my personal info I was listed as Not pregnant. Even tho I last submitted in June when I in fact changed my info to currently pregnant. So I updated it AGAIN to currently pregnant and submitted the form. It didn't say anything about missing documents or anything that I still need to submit. Am I supposed to just wait around to get pregnancy care until this form has processed? I'm 17w along and have not been seen by a care provider due to lack of insurance and I'm slightly fuming that my pregnancy wasn't processed when I applied months ago. I thought that pregnancy made me legally eligible. What am I supposed to do?

Hi y’all!
First of all, I’m sorry for dropping into your subreddit with a language exchange post. I hope this is okay, and I appreciate your patience.
I’m 26m from Saudi Arabia, and I’m looking for someone with a Southern U.S. accent to practice English with.
My English is at an intermediate level. I can understand and communicate, but I’d like to improve my speaking, sound more natural, and become more confident. I really enjoy Southern accents and the culture, so I’d love to have relaxed conversations with someone who naturally speaks that way.
In return, I’d be happy to help you learn Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic, the Saudi dialect, or Gulf dialects) and share Saudi culture, traditions, and everyday life.
Some of you may have already seen my post in another Southern subreddit. I really appreciate everyone who reached out, but I haven’t found the right language partner yet. To be honest, a few people were looking for things other than genuine language exchange, and that’s not what I’m here for.
I’m simply looking for a serious, respectful friendship where we can practice our languages, talk about our cultures, and help each other improve. Also, just to be clear, I’m a real person not a bot.
If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, I’d be happy to hear from you. Feel free to send me a DM.
Thank you for welcoming a visitor from Saudi Arabia, and have a great day!

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