Affairs

America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) has tapped Tom Hassenboehler as vice president of policy development and legislative affairs. He joins ANGA after nearly a decade on Capitol Hill, serving as minority counsel to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and as counsel on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Hassenboehler previously worked in the offices of former Reps. Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and Bob Riley (R-AL). “[His] knowledge of energy and environmental policy, coupled with his deep understanding of Congress and the many benefits of natural gas, will be a tremendous asset to ANGA’s efforts to promote greater utilization of this clean, domestic energy source,” said ANGA President Regina Hopper. Hassenboehler earned a bachelor’s degree and juris doctorate from Louisiana State University.

Because of U.S. shale natural gas, the United States “is no longer a big importer of or will not need to be an importer of liquefied natural gas [LNG],” the State Department coordinator for International Energy Affairs said Tuesday.

In an interview with a knowledgeable syndicated public affairs columnist who understands energy issues, California Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, who has long coveted the governor’s office, made it clear that he thinks California will not need a liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal following the recent state approval of the 80-mile North Baja Pipeline expansion to allow gas supplies to flow from a soon-to-open LNG terminal in Mexico.

Dynegy Inc. has named Carol F. Graebner executive vice president and general counsel. She will be responsible for Dynegy’s legal, regulatory and government affairs activities, and will report directly to CEO Bruce A. Williamson. Graebner, 49, joins Dynegy from Duke Energy International. She also served as general counsel for Conoco Global Power Inc. Graebner replaces Kenneth E. Randolph, who is retiring after 18 years with Dynegy.

Dynegy Inc. has named Marian Davenport senior vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs, reporting to Kenneth Randolph, executive vice president and general counsel. Davenport has had various executive positions with Dynegy since it acquired Destec Energy in 1997, where she was director of project development.

In a press conference originally set up to update the public about international affairs, President Bush said Friday that he had not had any contact with Enron Corp. officials since the bankruptcy filing, but said he was concerned about the city of Houston and the ex-Enron employees who had lost their “life savings” when the company declared bankruptcy.

FERC took initial steps last Wednesday to set up a “specific division” within its Office of External Affairs (OEA) that would reach out to and work closely with states on pressing natural gas and electric regulatory issues. The initial focus of the FERC-state partnerships will be on regional transmission organizations (RTOs), which are considered the most urgent matter facing regulators now.

FERC moved Wednesday to set up a “specific division” within its Office of External Affairs (OEA) that would reach out to and work closely with states on pressing natural gas and electric regulatory issues. The initial focus of the FERC-state partnerships will be on regional transmission organizations (RTOs), which is considered the most urgent issue facing regulators now.

Portland, OR-based Northwest Natural Gas Co. has appointed Mark S. Dodson as the company’s president and COO. Dodson, 56, had served as NW Natural’s senior vice president of public affairs and general counsel since 1997. Dodson was a partner in the law firm of Ater Wynne Hewitt Dodson & Skerrit in Portland from 1980 to 1997. He also has worked in the general counsel’s office of the U.S. Department of Transportation and was a special counsel to the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington, D.C.