Appropriations

In the event of a potential government shutdown beginning at 12:00 a.m. (EST) on Oct. 1, FERC said the majority of its approximately 1,500 employees would be furloughed, while it would continue to inspect liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, monitor energy markets for manipulation or other violations of Commission rules and potential threats to energy infrastructure.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, have called on FERC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to execute more robust memorandums of understanding (MOU) to resolve their jurisdictional disputes, which the lawmakers said are hampering oversight of the nation’s energy markets.

Two prominent Ohio Republicans — state House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Media) and Treasurer Josh Mandel — told supporters of the oil and natural gas industry that they oppose Gov. John Kasich’s proposal to levy new severance taxes on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and natural gas liquids (NGL).

Driven primarily by continuing record oil production from the Bakken Shale formation, North Dakota’s economy is booming and is on target to produce more than $3.5 billion in tax revenues by the end of the state’s current two-year (2011-2013) fiscal year budget period, according to the state tax commissioner.

While state Senators in Pennsylvania continue to wrangle over a drilling impact fee, a state House committee passed a competing bill along party lines Wednesday.

A California bill (SB 489) to increase access to various clean energy sources, including biogas was passed out of the lower house Assembly’s Appropriations Committee earlier in August on a 12-4 vote with a “do-pass” recommendation. The measure’s author, Sen. Lois Wolk said the bill is designed to remove current barriers in the way of small-scale renewable energy development, and specifically gives farmers and food processors in the agricultural sector the ability to cut their businesses’ energy bills through more combined heat-power systems. SB 489 would enable all eligible renewable energy technologies — including biomass and biogas — to use the state’s net energy metering program that allows customers to offset some of their power usage with on-site generation. This is aimed at greatly expanding the benefits net energy metering to a wider group of energy producer/users.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) approved four deals with Marcellus Shale operators at its April meeting, including one that could lead to drilling on state lands.

Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) and other lawmakers are asking all 435 House members to sign a joint letter to an appropriations subcommittee seeking assurance that “at least” $5.1 billion will be allocated for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in fiscal year (FY) 2011, as well as nearly $600 million in additional emergency funds. The requested funding is significantly more than what the Obama administration has proposed for FY 2011.

Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) and other lawmakers are asking all 435 House members to sign a joint letter to an appropriations subcommittee seeking assurance that “at least” $5.1 billion will be allocated for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in fiscal year (FY) 2011, as well as nearly $600 million in additional emergency funds. The requested funding is significantly more than what the Obama administration has proposed for FY 2011.