Richard Nemec began writing for NGI in 1995 and has 30 years experience in the energy industry. He holds BA from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and a MA in journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL; and completed MBA courses at Northwestern's Evening Graduate School of Management.
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Articles from Rich Nemec
After Years of Turmoil, PG&E Looks to New Playbook
Although still under sporadic criticism from regulators, legislators and customers, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) and parent company PG&E Corp. are developing a new playbook, including updated wildfire mitigation plans. CEO Patricia Poppe during a fourth quarter conference call Thursday said the mitigation plans were moving to risk-based from activity-based. They would address the…
February 26, 2021
PG&E Partnering to Detect Methane Leaks, Carbon Capture Repurposing
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) is partnering in research that executives said could shift the paradigm for methane detection and carbon capture/repurposing. Reducing PG&E’s carbon footprint is a major focus of its Gas Operations Research, Development and Innovation team that is supporting California’s goal to reduce methane emissions by 40% below 2015 levels in…
February 24, 2021
North Dakota Hopes to Reduce Impact of Federal Lands Leasing Ban; Native American Exemption
An exemption for Native American lands in the Biden Administration’s executive order (EO) pausing new leasing on federal lands is “highly significant” for North Dakota’s Bakken Shale play, according to the state’s top oil and natural gas regulator. Biden’s order directed to the Interior Department’s (DOI) Bureau of Land Management “does not restrict energy activities…
February 18, 2021
Democratic State Lawmakers Propose Fracking Ban in California
Two Democratic state senators in California on Wednesday introduced legislation to ban various well stimulation technologies, including hydraulic fracturing (fracking), along with establishing a 2,500-foot setback for wells from the population. Its authors — state Sens. Scott Wiener (San Francisco) and Monique Limon (Santa Barbara) — characterize Senate Bill (SB) 467 as being a boost…
February 18, 2021
California Utilities Deploying Technology Advances in Wildfire Mitigation Plans
With wildfires occurring in historic proportions, California’s major power utilities are deploying various technology advances in an attempt to lower the incidence of the destructive blazes, according to revised wildfire mitigation plans (WMP) submitted to state regulators earlier this month. State regulators have mandated annual revisions to multi-billion-dollar WMPs, which have been reviewed with a…
February 17, 2021
Bakken Production Holding, But Winter Declines Expected Before Uptick
End of 2020 statistics showed North Dakota’s Bakken Shale production holding relatively steady and other indicators, including oil prices, turning upward. But the state’s chief oil and natural gas official said production likely will drop for January and February. “The drilling rig count [15 as of last Friday] is substantially short of what we need…
February 16, 2021
Black Hills CEO Says ‘Lethal’ if Natural Gas Bans Enacted in Service Territories
Rapid City, SD-based Black Hills Corp. is undeterred by increased pressure from climate change advocates to phase out fossil fuel use, CEO Linn Evans said Wednesday. During a conference call to discuss fourth quarter results, Evans discussed the impact by opponents to fossil fuels and whether that could impact the natural gas utilities. He said…
February 14, 2021
California Looking to Advance Green Hydrogen in Decarbonization Plans
California Energy Commission (CEC) research engineers are planning to take a deeper look at the potential for green hydrogen in the long term to help decarbonize the state’s energy system. Three kinds of hydrogen have been gaining attention in recent months as operators look for low and zero-carbon energy alternatives. Hydrogen can be produced from…
February 11, 2021
California Democrats Push for More Drilling Oversight, Reduced Natural Gas Use
A California senator representing the heart of the state’s oil patch has signaled an intent to pursue legislation to enact more oversight on well stimulation techniques. Democratic state Sen. Melissa Hurtado’s intent bill, Senate Bill (SB) 25, indicates the San Joaquin Valley district she represents has many energy industry workers but she wants to protect…
February 8, 2021
MDU Resources Sees More Utility Growth, RNG Interest
Bismarck, ND-based MDU Resources Group Inc. on Thursday reported record 2020 earnings across all of its businesses, including natural gas and power utilities in eight states. CEO David Goodin and senior executives said they expect continued growth in 2021 despite the Covid-19 pandemic as construction materials and services businesses accounted for nearly two-thirds of the…
February 6, 2021