Occidental Petroleum’s Vicki Hollub fended off a shareholder revolt led by Carl Icahn. Lifted by rising crude prices, she now has the confidence of Warren Buffett.
A year ago, the Permian Basin region was one of America’s hottest labor markets, fueled by a fracking gold rush. Today, the oil field has all but shut down, and everyone is feeling the pain, from restaurant owners to landlords to barbers.
When dangerously high winds arise this year, the utility says it will black out fire-prone areas that are home to 5.4 million people. No U.S. utility has blacked out so many on purpose.