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Much has been made of the promise of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for curing the nation’s gas supply woes. By most, LNG is seen as vital for meeting growing domestic gas demand in the face of declining domestic production.

Although the suitor, ChevronTexaco, isn’t saying anything, the reported object of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) siting interest, Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in north San Diego County, is saying “no,” loud and clear.

Projecting natural gas wellhead prices, and basically anything else concerning natural gas, hasn’t been easy for the Energy Information Administration (EIA). In fact, forecasting consumption, production and prices for just about any other energy commodity has been easier.

Projecting natural gas wellhead prices, and basically anything else concerning natural gas, hasn’t been easy for the Energy Information Administration (EIA). In fact, forecasting consumption, production and prices for just about any other energy commodity has been easier.

Sen Pete Domenici of New Mexico and Rep. W.J. Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, the chief Republican negotiators on the energy bill, said Friday that an agreement had been reached on the disputed issues in the tax package that allows them to make the text of the bill public on Saturday, and sets the stage for the measure to possibly clear both houses before lawmakers adjourn later this month.

Xcel Energy’s trading operations are being targeted for study by Colorado state regulators, who said they don’t expect to find anything wrong. A report last Thursday in the Denver Post said the state utilities commission wants to probe how the trading impacts retail utility customers in the state.

Though it opened and closed at almost the same level, the natural gas futures market was anything but a kiddie’s ride Tuesday as waves of buying and selling led prices on a roller coaster of trading activity.

The energy industry remained in a high state of alert Tuesday evening and was still assessing the impact of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center buildings in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and in Somerset County, PA, near Pittsburgh. Trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), and on the major over the counter energy e-commerce systems, including EnronOnline and IntercontinentalExchange, remained shut down or delayed indefinitely. No major energy outages or curtailments were reported other than those in close proximity to the terrorist attacks in New York City.

If you thought natural gas prices were volatile last summer, you haven’t seen anything yet, according to Raymond James & Associates. During the peak heat of summer 2001, the company forecasts that gas prices will rise above $6/Mcf, and remain above the $5/Mcf mark in the longer term.