2007

North American natural gas over the next 20 years will expand in use, price and power generation, and in Nevada the pace will be even brisker, according to a consultant’s study done last year and made public this month by Sierra Pacific Resources’ two Nevada private-sector utilities. The Nevada Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has had a confidential version of the report since June.

A separate arena has been created for a duel over constitutional aspects of Canada’s northern pipeline plan, sparing the beleaguered Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) a potentially lengthy further regulatory delay.

A separate arena has been created for a duel over constitutional aspects of Canada’s northern pipeline plan, sparing the beleaguered Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) a potentially lengthy further regulatory delay.

As part of a large bundle of new appointments late Friday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger filled three of the five seats on the oversight board of the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and reappointed one of the five members of the California Energy Commission (CEC). All of the selections require confirmation by the California Senate.

In its first exercise of expanded penalty authority granted by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), FERC last week slapped $22.5 million in fines on five power companies for violations of open access transmission tariffs, rules and standards of conduct. It also warned gas companies that they they too are being watched.

Although emissions trading began in the United States, which is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the United Kingdom and European Union are miles ahead in the development of a market for CO2 emissions credits. Now that Democrats control both houses of Congress, change could be afoot, but no one expects it to be quick or easy.

CMS Energy said Friday it agreed to pay $200 million to settle shareholder class action lawsuits related to “round-trip” trades made by a Texas subsidiary in 2000-2002.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. executives said Tuesday they expect the company to end 2007 with $12 billion in net debt, which is a steep climb down from the $26 billion of net debt Anadarko had in the third quarter following its acquisition of Kerr-McGee Corp. and Western Gas Resources (see Daily GPI, June 26).

Bill Barrett Corp. announced plans Wednesday to divest its Williston Basin oil and natural properties, beginning marketing efforts in early 2007 and closing during the second quarter.