Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) was expected to send out a “discussion draft” of his widely anticipated emergency legislation for California to members of the House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee late yesterday, which means that it’s “still very open to change,” said Barton press aide Samantha Jordan. While “it’s more likely than not” that Barton will introduce a bill to aid California, “it’s not definite.” If he decides in favor of legislation, she said he will probably come out with it in late April after the congressional recess. Barton would then hold one hearing on the bill and move quickly to mark-up. Barton also is hoping to unveil omnibus energy legislation in the House by late May or early June, Jordan noted, and forward it to the White House by early fall.

Chairman W.J. “Billy” Tauzin (R-LA) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Barton came out swinging yesterday at Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO) and other House Democrats for “some cheap shots” allegedly directed at the Republicansand their efforts to ease the California power crisis. The remarks reportedly were made Wednesday when Gephardt and the House delegation from California, Washington and Oregon introduced yet another bill seeking cost-based rates and refunds on wholesale power sales in the West. “California is in for a rough summer. But capping wholesale prices won’t solve the problem — it will only complicate the solution,” responded Tauzin. “Any knee-jerk reaction would only wind up as a kick in the pants to Californians.”

Speaking to the “Newsmaker’s Breakfast” sponsored the U.S. Energy Association and Energy Daily yesterday, Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-AK) said he has been assured by the White House that drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) will be included in the final report of the interagency energy task force. In addition, he indicated that he expects ANWR to remain a central part of the Senate’s comprehensive energy legislation.

Williams’ exploration and production subsidiary purchased producing and undeveloped leasehold interests in two oil and gas properties in Sublette County, WY, for $15 million. The purchase includes a small interest covering a significant portion of the Jonah Field and the neighboring Pinedale Anticline area. The leasehold acreage represents more than 300 locations where wells already exist or could be developed. “This is a proven, profitable area, said Tony Silvestri, director of acquisitions and divestitures. “We’ve been involved with the Jonah Field development for two years and have a high level of confidence in our Pinedale position, too, because of the similar geologic setting it has with Jonah.” Williams’ exploration and production unit primarily drills for natural gas in the Northern Rockies, New Mexico’s San Juan Basin and onshore along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. In January, Williams reported year-end 2000 reserves of 1.20 Tcfe. “The expansion of our reserve base supports Williams’ marketing and trading initiatives. Buying and building gas reserves can provide a natural physical hedge for the company’s power portfolio,” said Bryan Guderian, vice president exploration and production.

Reliant Energy Power Generation announced plans to build a 310 MW peaking facility to provide power during the summer months and a separate 575 MW combined- cycle facility that together will make up the Reliant Energy Bighorn power complex to serve power markets in Nevada and the West. Reliant previously announced in October 2000 that it would build its second merchant power generation plant in Nevada, Reliant Energy Arrow Canyon, northeast of Las Vegas on land leased from the Republic Waste Services’ landfill. Currently, Reliant and a partner jointly own and operate El Dorado Energy, a 480 MW facility, southeast of Las Vegas, near Boulder City, that began operation late in the first quarter 2000. Reliant Energy Bighorn will be located about 35 miles south of Las Vegas in southern Clark County. “We are committed to Nevada, and we want to help provide the state with a balanced portfolio of generation assets,” said Joe Bob Perkins, COO of Reliant Energy Wholesale Group. “To date, the majority of proposed new generation will come from baseload units; however, a reliable and efficient generation system also must include generation dedicated to meeting peak demand.”

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