Advisor

A Vectren Corp. official told a panel of Indiana lawmakers on Tuesday that the state’s 30-year contract to purchase coal-to-substitute natural gas (SNG) from a New York company should be modified so smaller gas customers aren’t stuck with the bill should the deal prove to be a bad investment.

Margaret N. Schneider has been tapped to be deputy director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), BSEE Director James A. Watson said. Schneider was senior advisor to the BSEE director and also assisted with policy reviews and managed special projects. Prior to working with BSEE, she spent 30 years in the Environmental Protection Agency. In her new post, Schneider will assist Watson with the enforcement of safety and environmental regulations governing the Outer Continental Shelf.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee plans to fast-track the nomination of sitting FERC Commissioner Jon Wellinghoff to a full five-year term at the agency, which some believe may help to move ahead the stalled nomination to a second term of Chairman Joseph Kelliher.

The top concern of industry executives is uncertainty about oil and natural gas prices this year, according to a survey released by business advisor Grant Thornton LLP last Tuesday.

The top concern of industry executives is uncertainty about oil and natural gas prices this year, according to a survey released by business advisor Grant Thornton LLP Tuesday.

Rhode Island Gov. Donald. Carcieri on Thursday signed an executive order creating Rhode Island’s first chief energy advisor to the governor, who will be in charge of coordinating state energy policy and overseeing the state energy office.

Mary Doyle, formerly policy advisor for FERC CommissionerWilliam I. Massey, has been named director of regulatory policy forDynegy Inc. Doyle also served in the gas pipeline rates division atFERC through the gas restructuring process.

FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker has named Susan G Pollonais ashis advisor on gas and oil issues, replacing Patricia W. Jagtiani,who has accepted a position with the Natural Gas SupplyAssociation. Pollonais has served as a public utility specialist inthe Office of Pipeline Regulations Division of Litigation since1997. From 1993 to 1997 she was a gas regulatory consultant andproject manager for Northern States Power.

Virginia Gas Co., a small integrated natural gas companyoperating in the southwestern tip of Virginia, has selectedOppenheimer Corp. as its financial advisor to conduct an evaluationof the company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, and strategicalternatives available.