David Bradley

Relatively low natural gas prices and regional environmental initiatives are leading natural gas-fired generators to provide a greater portion of the electricity in the northeastern United States, and the region’s two regional transmission organizations — the Independent System Operator of New England (ISO New England) and the New York Independent System Operator — have seen a dramatic shift away from petroleum- and coal-fired generation since 2001, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Property assessments in West Virginia have increased 49.5% in the last eight years — to $86.6 billion from $57.9 billion in 2005 — with the highest growth coming in counties that experienced natural gas development over the same period, according to the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy (CBP).

Barring unexpectedly cold weather this winter, rising natural gas production will prevent prices from eclipsing $4/MMBtu, but an inventory deficit is likely to reemerge by next summer, prompting a price recovery, according to BNP Paribas’ Teri Viswanath, director of commodity strategy.

New England depends largely on natural gas for its power generation needs, but increased use of energy efficiency (EE) programs will help to keep electric demand nearly flat over the next decade, according to ISO New England’s 2013 Regional System Plan, which was released Friday.

A proposal before congress aimed at capturing a greater share of the revenues from offshore oil and natural gas drilling for the coastal states could increase the federal debt by more than $49 billion by 2040 while penalizing coastal states that oppose expanded offshore drilling, according to areport by the Center for American Progress (CAP).

Gulfport Energy Corp. added a monster well from the dry gas window of the Utica Shale in eastern Ohio to its pen during 3Q2013, a quarter that also saw the company post a substantial increase in total net production, again largely thanks to the Utica.

A total of 92 bids were entered in a pair of North Slope oil and gas lease sales in Anchorage Wednesday and the state netted $5.6 million, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said.

Voters in three Colorado towns voted to place moratoriums on natural gas and oil exploration and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) Tuesday, and a moratorium on the ballot in a fourth town failed by just a few votes. The ballot initiatives were seen as largely symbolic efforts, since there is little to no drilling being done in any of the towns.

Voters in three Colorado towns voted to place moratoriums on natural gas and oil exploration and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) Tuesday, and a moratorium on the ballot in a fourth town failed by just a few votes. The ballot initiatives were seen as largely symbolic efforts, since there is little to no drilling being done in any of the towns. Meanwhile, across the country in Ohio, a ban on fracking on Youngstown’s ballot failed for a second time.