Approved

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the city utility’s long-range plans to eliminate coal-fired generation from the power mix in favor of more natural gas and renewables.

The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) approved two separate agreements Friday to provide water from several managed lakes in eastern Ohio for approximately three months to Antero Resources and Gulfport Energy Corp. for Utica Shale operations.

Colorado legislators and Wyoming regulators are looking at different ways to tighten oversight of their states’ oil and natural gas drilling.

The United States has completed its bilateral consultations with Japan for the country’s membership in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). If ultimately approved, membership is seen as potentially aiding U.S. liquefied natural gas to Japan (see Daily GPI, March 19). “Since November 2011, the United States has been engaged in consultations with Japan focused on Japan’s readiness to meet the TPP’s high standards for liberalizing trade and investment, and to address specific bilateral issues of concern in the automotive and insurance sectors, as well as other Japanese non-tariff measures,” said Acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis. “…[W]e are pleased to welcome Japan’s participation in the TPP negotiations pending a consensus agreement among the current TPP members and the completion of our respective domestic processes.” Through the TPP, the United States and 10 Asia-Pacific countries are seeking to negotiate a next-generation, regional trade agreement.

Sally Jewell was sworn in as Interior secretary Friday, two days after the Senate approved the Obama administration nominee by an 87-11 vote.

The Senate approved President Obama’s nomination of Sally Jewell as Interior secretary Wednesday by an 87-11 vote.

Lawmakers on a key committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved three “Marcellus Works” bills on Tuesday.

A bill (HB 1324) recently approved by the Indiana House and now being considered by the state Senate would provide an income tax credit for large natural gas-fueled trucks and would impose a motor carrier fuel tax on natural gas equivalent to rates already imposed on gasoline.

FERC has approved CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission LLC’s (CEGT) request to participate in the agency’s pre-filing process for a proposed pipeline system expansion in central Arkansas.