Aimed

The Bush administration on Monday kicked off a national campaign aimed at helping U.S. residential consumers, businesses and the federal government conserve energy this winter in response to escalating prices for home heating fuels.

As a follow-up to the recently enacted omnibus energy bill, the House Resources Committee will begin mark-up on Wednesday of a measure aimed at authorizing exploration and production in Alaska’s arctic region and relaxing the moratorium to allow interested coastal states to explore for oil and natural gas off their shores.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), chairman of the energy bill conference committee, and Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH) on Friday announced a plan aimed at resolving the stalemate over the proposed liability protections for producers of the fuel additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). The proposal drew immediate objections from House and Senate Democrats.

President Bush unveiled five proposals last Wednesday aimed at increasing the supply of domestic energy, including a proposal spelling out unambiguous authority for federal regulators over the siting of liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals. It was the president’s second speech on energy policy in a week, signaling the White House’s concern over escalating energy prices and their potential impact on the economy. He also addressed energy issues during a prime-time news conference on Thursday.

President Bush unveiled several new proposals Wednesday aimed at increasing the supply of domestic energy, including a proposal spelling out unambiguous authority for federal regulators over the siting of liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals. It was the president’s second speech on energy in a week, signaling the White House’s concern over escalating energy prices and their potential impact on the economy.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee, last Wednesday said a stand-alone natural gas measure aimed at bolstering supply and roping in prices is still a possibility in the new Congress.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee, on Wednesday said a stand-alone natural gas measure aimed at bolstering supply and roping in prices is still a possibility in the new Congress.

Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) has re-introduced legislation aimed at fostering meaningful expansion of the nation’s capacity to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG). The bill is “exactly similar” to the one that the House lawmaker introduced last May (see Daily GPI, May 21, 2004).

The Agriculture Department’s Forest Service has issued a final rule that is aimed at improving the forest management planning of 155 national forests and 20 grasslands. A key part of the rule will allow the government to complete forest planning (i.e. ecological, social and economic issues) much quicker, which would provide more “certainty” to oil and natural gas producers about whether they can drill in these areas, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Dan Jiron.