Niagara Mohawk Power customers and marketers got an earlyholiday present this month, when Tennessee Gas Pipeline beganservice Dec. 1 on the direct connection from its 200 Line nearCedar Hill, NY to the gas distribution system of Niagara MohawkPower near Albany. The new 2.7-mile lateral has the capacity tosupply the proposed Bethlehem Energy Center being developed nearthe connection site. Stephen C. Beasley, president of TennesseeGas, said the connection offers a “variety of new opportunities forshippers on Tennessee,” and will eliminate rate stacking of coststhrough multiple pipelines.

Southern Energy Inc. has signed a long-term agreement to manageall the natural gas transportation and storage capacity forChesapeake Utilities’ Delaware and Maryland divisions. ChesapeakeUtilities serves natural gas customers throughout central andsouthern Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, providing propaneservice to customers in the Delmarva Peninsula.

Ultra-deepwater oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico isgetting a boost with a partnership between the Minerals ManagementService and the U.S. Department of Energy. The two agencies agreedearlier this month to promote ways to improve production andultimately decrease U.S. dependence on imported energy. Theagreement details how the agencies will promote the development andcommercialization of new or existing technologies to lower the costof ultra-deepwater (more than 5,000 feet deep) exploration andproduction of oil and gas while maintaining the safety andprotection of the marine environment. To learn more about theinitiative, visit the website at www.mms.gov.

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