Nick Bowlin
@nickbowlin.bsky.social
oil and gas reporter for ProPublica and The Frontier
Freelance work in: Harper's, The Guardian, The Nation, The Drift, Outside, etc.
Freelance work in: Harper's, The Guardian, The Nation, The Drift, Outside, etc.
This is tonight: Anthem Brewing, 6 pm. OKC folks, c'mon by
Will you be in OKC tomorrow? Come get a beer and talk about oil&gas pollution. We'll have a good time.
Signup here: www.readfrontier.org/overpressured/
And here's my story on Oklahoma's oilfield waste crisis
www.readfrontier.org/stories/toxi...
@readfrontier.bsky.social @propublica.org
Signup here: www.readfrontier.org/overpressured/
And here's my story on Oklahoma's oilfield waste crisis
www.readfrontier.org/stories/toxi...
@readfrontier.bsky.social @propublica.org
Toxic wastewater from oil fields keeps pouring out of the ground. Oklahoma regulators failed to stop it.
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...
www.readfrontier.org
November 18, 2025 at 4:36 PM
This is tonight: Anthem Brewing, 6 pm. OKC folks, c'mon by
Will you be in OKC tomorrow? Come get a beer and talk about oil&gas pollution. We'll have a good time.
Signup here: www.readfrontier.org/overpressured/
And here's my story on Oklahoma's oilfield waste crisis
www.readfrontier.org/stories/toxi...
@readfrontier.bsky.social @propublica.org
Signup here: www.readfrontier.org/overpressured/
And here's my story on Oklahoma's oilfield waste crisis
www.readfrontier.org/stories/toxi...
@readfrontier.bsky.social @propublica.org
Toxic wastewater from oil fields keeps pouring out of the ground. Oklahoma regulators failed to stop it.
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...
www.readfrontier.org
November 17, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Will you be in OKC tomorrow? Come get a beer and talk about oil&gas pollution. We'll have a good time.
Signup here: www.readfrontier.org/overpressured/
And here's my story on Oklahoma's oilfield waste crisis
www.readfrontier.org/stories/toxi...
@readfrontier.bsky.social @propublica.org
Signup here: www.readfrontier.org/overpressured/
And here's my story on Oklahoma's oilfield waste crisis
www.readfrontier.org/stories/toxi...
@readfrontier.bsky.social @propublica.org
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
After Charlie Kirk's death, the Oklahoma State Department of Education received over 400 complaints about schools and school staff accused of disrespecting the slain conservative activist. But the agency didn’t follow through on promises to investigate.
Ryan Walters’ promised investigations into schools that didn’t honor Charlie Kirk never happened, records show
Records reveal the Oklahoma State Department of Education never launched any school investigations, underscoring a tenure marked by spectacle rather than action.
www.readfrontier.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:20 PM
After Charlie Kirk's death, the Oklahoma State Department of Education received over 400 complaints about schools and school staff accused of disrespecting the slain conservative activist. But the agency didn’t follow through on promises to investigate.
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
Incredibly comprehensive reporting on what sounds like a massive sleeping giant oil pollution problem going on in Oklahoma right now.
Inspiring how so many people in such a defunct regulatory agency nevertheless still kept trying to affect change.
I feel sorry for Danny Ray.
Inspiring how so many people in such a defunct regulatory agency nevertheless still kept trying to affect change.
I feel sorry for Danny Ray.
Every oil state disposes of toxic wastewater underground. But in Oklahoma, it hasn't been staying there, creating large, ongoing pollution events known as "purges."
An investigation a year in the making for @readfrontier.bsky.social and @propublica.org
www.readfrontier.org/stories/toxi...
An investigation a year in the making for @readfrontier.bsky.social and @propublica.org
www.readfrontier.org/stories/toxi...
Toxic wastewater from oil fields keeps pouring out of the ground. Oklahoma regulators failed to stop it.
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...
www.readfrontier.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Incredibly comprehensive reporting on what sounds like a massive sleeping giant oil pollution problem going on in Oklahoma right now.
Inspiring how so many people in such a defunct regulatory agency nevertheless still kept trying to affect change.
I feel sorry for Danny Ray.
Inspiring how so many people in such a defunct regulatory agency nevertheless still kept trying to affect change.
I feel sorry for Danny Ray.
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
Toxic wastewater from oil fields keeps pouring out of the ground. Oklahoma regulators failed to stop it.
grist.org/accountabili...
#OK #Oklahoma #Water #Toxic #Oil
grist.org/accountabili...
#OK #Oklahoma #Water #Toxic #Oil
Toxic wastewater from oil fields keeps pouring out of the ground. Oklahoma regulators failed to stop it.
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from Oklahoma oil wells.
grist.org
November 4, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Every oil state disposes of toxic wastewater underground. But in Oklahoma, it hasn't been staying there, creating large, ongoing pollution events known as "purges."
An investigation a year in the making for @readfrontier.bsky.social and @propublica.org
www.readfrontier.org/stories/toxi...
An investigation a year in the making for @readfrontier.bsky.social and @propublica.org
www.readfrontier.org/stories/toxi...
Toxic wastewater from oil fields keeps pouring out of the ground. Oklahoma regulators failed to stop it.
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...
www.readfrontier.org
October 31, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Every oil state disposes of toxic wastewater underground. But in Oklahoma, it hasn't been staying there, creating large, ongoing pollution events known as "purges."
An investigation a year in the making for @readfrontier.bsky.social and @propublica.org
www.readfrontier.org/stories/toxi...
An investigation a year in the making for @readfrontier.bsky.social and @propublica.org
www.readfrontier.org/stories/toxi...
In Oklahoma, toxic oilfield wastewater – injected at high pressure – is spreading underground, polluting water and blasting to the surface. This is massive public and environmental health crisis. The state can't stop it
@propublica.org + @readfrontier.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/okla...
@propublica.org + @readfrontier.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/okla...
Toxic Wastewater From Oil Fields Keeps Pouring Out of the Ground. Oklahoma Regulators Failed to Stop It.
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...
www.propublica.org
October 31, 2025 at 2:54 PM
In Oklahoma, toxic oilfield wastewater – injected at high pressure – is spreading underground, polluting water and blasting to the surface. This is massive public and environmental health crisis. The state can't stop it
@propublica.org + @readfrontier.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/okla...
@propublica.org + @readfrontier.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/okla...
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
Things have escalated, considerably, since @nickbowlin.bsky.social wrote about the paucity of affordable housing in MT's wealthiest city for @highcountrynews.org
October 1, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Things have escalated, considerably, since @nickbowlin.bsky.social wrote about the paucity of affordable housing in MT's wealthiest city for @highcountrynews.org
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil & gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground & threatening Oklahoma’s drinking water.
MUST READ @nickbowlin.bsky.social's dive into one of OK's largest, most powerful industries
MUST READ @nickbowlin.bsky.social's dive into one of OK's largest, most powerful industries
Toxic Wastewater From Oil Fields Keeps Pouring Out of the Ground. Oklahoma Regulators Failed to Stop It.
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...
www.propublica.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil & gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground & threatening Oklahoma’s drinking water.
MUST READ @nickbowlin.bsky.social's dive into one of OK's largest, most powerful industries
MUST READ @nickbowlin.bsky.social's dive into one of OK's largest, most powerful industries
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
Toxic salt water keeps shooting out of the ground in Oklahoma. Why isn't the state doing more to stop it? @nickbowlin.bsky.social @readfrontier.bsky.social
Toxic Wastewater From Oil Fields Keeps Pouring Out of the Ground. Oklahoma Regulators Failed to Stop It.
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...
www.propublica.org
October 29, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Toxic salt water keeps shooting out of the ground in Oklahoma. Why isn't the state doing more to stop it? @nickbowlin.bsky.social @readfrontier.bsky.social
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
📚 What the Floodlight team is reading: Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells in Oklahoma. Regulators failed to stop it, @nickbowlin.bsky.social reports for @propublica.org and @readfrontier.bsky.social:
Toxic wastewater from oil fields keeps pouring out of the ground. Oklahoma regulators failed to stop it.
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s…
www.readfrontier.org
October 29, 2025 at 8:29 PM
📚 What the Floodlight team is reading: Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells in Oklahoma. Regulators failed to stop it, @nickbowlin.bsky.social reports for @propublica.org and @readfrontier.bsky.social:
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
For years, people working for the state agency charged with regulating Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry have warned about the dangers of high-pressure injection. But agency leaders have not fined any company for wastewater leaks in the last 5 years. @nickbowlin.bsky.social @readfrontier.bsky.social
Toxic Wastewater From Oil Fields Keeps Pouring Out of the Ground. Oklahoma Regulators Failed to Stop It.
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...
www.propublica.org
October 29, 2025 at 8:54 PM
For years, people working for the state agency charged with regulating Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry have warned about the dangers of high-pressure injection. But agency leaders have not fined any company for wastewater leaks in the last 5 years. @nickbowlin.bsky.social @readfrontier.bsky.social
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
Bill Pulte is extremely concerned about mortgage fraud and also trying to allow crypto to be used as collateral in mortgage underwriting, which is sure to generate a whole bunch of mortgage fraud. He also owned a bunch of crypto as of January. From James Baratta:
prospect.org/economy/2025...
prospect.org/economy/2025...
Injecting Crypto Into the Mortgage Market
Trump’s top housing regulator wants to allow crypto to be used as collateral for mortgages.
prospect.org
August 28, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Bill Pulte is extremely concerned about mortgage fraud and also trying to allow crypto to be used as collateral in mortgage underwriting, which is sure to generate a whole bunch of mortgage fraud. He also owned a bunch of crypto as of January. From James Baratta:
prospect.org/economy/2025...
prospect.org/economy/2025...
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
Challenging lazy election postmortems, @nickbowlin.bsky.social cautions against the temptation “to regard rural people as possessing fixed, unchanging political attitudes.”
www.thedriftmag.com/easy-to-expl...
www.thedriftmag.com/easy-to-expl...
Easy to Exploit
Collapsing the Urban-Rural Divide
www.thedriftmag.com
June 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Challenging lazy election postmortems, @nickbowlin.bsky.social cautions against the temptation “to regard rural people as possessing fixed, unchanging political attitudes.”
www.thedriftmag.com/easy-to-expl...
www.thedriftmag.com/easy-to-expl...
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
Perhaps gauche to quote your own book, but I think CROSSINGS's section on the Roadless Rule gets at something fundamental: that to designate places as roadless is to assert that our national forests have value—for wildlife, for water, for slow recreation—beyond mere timber extraction. #roadecology
June 24, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Perhaps gauche to quote your own book, but I think CROSSINGS's section on the Roadless Rule gets at something fundamental: that to designate places as roadless is to assert that our national forests have value—for wildlife, for water, for slow recreation—beyond mere timber extraction. #roadecology
Will you be in Bozeman this weekend? I'll be on a panel with the deputy mayor and representatives from HRDC and Bozeman Tenants United to talk about housing and affordability issues. Come join
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-toll-o...
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-toll-o...
The toll of Bozeman’s housing crisis: live rountable discussion
Join High Country News for a live discussion with Bozeman community members about the state of Bozeman's housing crisis.
www.eventbrite.com
May 30, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Will you be in Bozeman this weekend? I'll be on a panel with the deputy mayor and representatives from HRDC and Bozeman Tenants United to talk about housing and affordability issues. Come join
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-toll-o...
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-toll-o...
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
Bozeman: Consider coming to a panel @highcountrynews.org
is hosting at the Country Bookshelf on Sunday. @nickbowlin.bsky.social, our deputy mayor, and Heather Grenier of HRDC will be discussing the city's housing crisis and spike in homelessness 👇
is hosting at the Country Bookshelf on Sunday. @nickbowlin.bsky.social, our deputy mayor, and Heather Grenier of HRDC will be discussing the city's housing crisis and spike in homelessness 👇
Bozeman’s housing crisis is pushing people to the brink.
Join @highcountrynews.org this Sunday, June 1, for a live discussion with Joey Morrison, Deputy Mayor of Bozeman and Heather Grenier, CEO of HRDC on the toll of rising rents, strained shelters & what comes next.
Register ➡️ buff.ly/5FFYXyK
Join @highcountrynews.org this Sunday, June 1, for a live discussion with Joey Morrison, Deputy Mayor of Bozeman and Heather Grenier, CEO of HRDC on the toll of rising rents, strained shelters & what comes next.
Register ➡️ buff.ly/5FFYXyK
May 29, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Bozeman: Consider coming to a panel @highcountrynews.org
is hosting at the Country Bookshelf on Sunday. @nickbowlin.bsky.social, our deputy mayor, and Heather Grenier of HRDC will be discussing the city's housing crisis and spike in homelessness 👇
is hosting at the Country Bookshelf on Sunday. @nickbowlin.bsky.social, our deputy mayor, and Heather Grenier of HRDC will be discussing the city's housing crisis and spike in homelessness 👇
Montana friends: HCN is hosting a panel discussion this weekend with HRDC CEO Heather Grenier, and Deputy Mayor Joey Morrison in Bozeman. We'll be talking about housing and homelessness issues, as well as my May feature on HRDC's shelter. Sunday, June 1, 4-6 PM at Country Bookshelf. Come join us
May 29, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Montana friends: HCN is hosting a panel discussion this weekend with HRDC CEO Heather Grenier, and Deputy Mayor Joey Morrison in Bozeman. We'll be talking about housing and homelessness issues, as well as my May feature on HRDC's shelter. Sunday, June 1, 4-6 PM at Country Bookshelf. Come join us
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
My latest for @highcountrynews.org: "A New Majority in Montana Defangs the Far Right". #mtleg #mtpol bit.ly/MTTUSS
A new Montana majority defangs the far right - High Country News
Disaffected Republicans and resurgent Democrats just took over the Montana Legislature and spent big on education and health care.
bit.ly
May 8, 2025 at 3:57 PM
My latest for @highcountrynews.org: "A New Majority in Montana Defangs the Far Right". #mtleg #mtpol bit.ly/MTTUSS
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
another friday, another news dump www.sfgate.com/national-par...
'All-out assault': Trump proposes largest cuts in National Park Service history
The Trump administration wants to cut almost 40% of funding for the National Park Service.
www.sfgate.com
May 2, 2025 at 9:37 PM
another friday, another news dump www.sfgate.com/national-par...
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
Hard but important #longread from @nickbowlin.bsky.social about Bozeman, Montana. "We see the culmination of a mental health crisis, housing crisis, a wage crisis, a drug crisis.” For @highcountrynews.org www.hcn.org/issues/57-5/...
May 2, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Hard but important #longread from @nickbowlin.bsky.social about Bozeman, Montana. "We see the culmination of a mental health crisis, housing crisis, a wage crisis, a drug crisis.” For @highcountrynews.org www.hcn.org/issues/57-5/...
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
NEW from me: Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company is operating 35 gas turbines without any pollution permits, belching asthma-worsening emissions into an area that leads Tennessee in ER visits for asthma.
www.eenews.net/articles/elo...
www.eenews.net/articles/elo...
Elon Musk’s xAI in Memphis: 35 gas turbines, no air pollution permits
The company’s turbines — enough to power 280,000 homes — run without emission controls in an area that leads Tennessee in asthma hospitalizations.
www.eenews.net
May 1, 2025 at 5:50 PM
NEW from me: Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company is operating 35 gas turbines without any pollution permits, belching asthma-worsening emissions into an area that leads Tennessee in ER visits for asthma.
www.eenews.net/articles/elo...
www.eenews.net/articles/elo...
For staff at Bozeman’s sole homeless shelter, the need for services has never been greater and the work has never been harder. I spent year talking to shelter staff and residents on the front lines of the West’s housing crisis for @highcountrynews.org www.hcn.org/issues/57-5/...
The toll of Bozeman’s housing crisis - High Country News
At the small city’s only emergency shelter, demand is higher and the work is harder than ever.
www.hcn.org
May 1, 2025 at 8:29 PM
For staff at Bozeman’s sole homeless shelter, the need for services has never been greater and the work has never been harder. I spent year talking to shelter staff and residents on the front lines of the West’s housing crisis for @highcountrynews.org www.hcn.org/issues/57-5/...
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
Billions in federal funds for plugging abandoned oil and gas wells are frozen under Trump's spending cuts, stalling cleanup efforts and job support. States and environmental groups are pushing back.
Reporting by @nickbowlin.bsky.social from @highcountrynews.bsky.social 📰
Reporting by @nickbowlin.bsky.social from @highcountrynews.bsky.social 📰
Trump halts historic orphaned well-plugging program - WyoFile
Western states were using funds from the Infrastructure Act to clean up pollution left behind by industry.
wyofile.com
March 31, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Billions in federal funds for plugging abandoned oil and gas wells are frozen under Trump's spending cuts, stalling cleanup efforts and job support. States and environmental groups are pushing back.
Reporting by @nickbowlin.bsky.social from @highcountrynews.bsky.social 📰
Reporting by @nickbowlin.bsky.social from @highcountrynews.bsky.social 📰
Reposted by Nick Bowlin
two months after the moss landing battery fire in california, many near the site are still ill — and say the government is not doing enough to find out why they’re sick.
is moss landing an “east palestine” moment for the energy transition? i spent weeks investigating to find out.
cc @heatmap.news
is moss landing an “east palestine” moment for the energy transition? i spent weeks investigating to find out.
cc @heatmap.news
The Mystery of the Moss Landing Battery Fire
People near the site of the disaster say they’re sick. But officials haven’t recognized any link between those symptoms and the fire.
heatmap.news
March 28, 2025 at 5:34 PM
two months after the moss landing battery fire in california, many near the site are still ill — and say the government is not doing enough to find out why they’re sick.
is moss landing an “east palestine” moment for the energy transition? i spent weeks investigating to find out.
cc @heatmap.news
is moss landing an “east palestine” moment for the energy transition? i spent weeks investigating to find out.
cc @heatmap.news