Against

Oral arguments by the owner of the Sears Tower, and QST Energyagainst Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) were heard yesterday by theIllinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Tower Leasing and QST arefighting ComEd’s refusal to allow installation of a cogenerationsystem at the tower that would save tenants an estimated $2 millionor more a year in energy costs. So far, ComEd has refused to allowQST to acquire or lease Edison’s distribution system inside theSears Tower, a prerequisite to installing the cogeneration (seeNGI May 5, 1997).

Natural gas producers and interstate pipelines squared offagainst each other at FERC’s symposium on reform of its complaintprocess Monday. Both sides agreed that expedited handling ofcomplaints by the Commission was a top priority, but they partedsharply on the need for formal complaints to be processed anddisposed of by FERC by certain deadlines.

Chevron says it will appeal a recent preliminary ruling by theState of Florida against its development of the Destin Dome 56Unit, about 25 miles offshore from Pensacola, FL.

The Independent Petroleum Association (IPAA) has filed a lawsuitagainst the Department of the Interior, claiming that through a newnatural gas royalty regulation DOI’s Minerals Management Service iscollecting a larger share of royalties than it is entitled to.