Authorizing

FERC paved the way for a significant increase in liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports Thursday by approving two new import terminals and associated pipelines in Mississippi, authorizing an expansion of the Creole Trail pipeline in Louisiana and approving an expansion of the Maritimes & Northeast pipeline to accommodate LNG from the Canaport LNG project in Canada.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act authorizing MoBay Storage Hub LLC, a subsidiary of Houston-based Falcon Gas Storage Co., to develop and operate the MoBay Storage Hub Project in Southern Alabama.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act authorizing MoBay Storage Hub LLC, a subsidiary of Houston-based Falcon Gas Storage Co., to develop and operate the MoBay Storage Hub Project in Southern Alabama (see Daily GPI, Dec. 14, 2006).

Despite authorizing $17 billion in pipeline projects with 58 Bcf/d of capacity since 2000, FERC staff said the Commission still has a full plate of gas pipeline, storage and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects either on file, in the prefiling stages or proposed in the marketplace.

Despite authorizing $17 billion in pipeline projects with 58 Bcf/d of capacity since 2000, FERC staff said the Commission still has a full plate of gas pipeline, storage and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects either on file, in the prefiling stages or proposed in the marketplace.

The Senate on Thursday approved a $2.8 trillion budget resolution that sets the stage for legislation authorizing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), but the prospects for the inclusion of ANWR in the House budget appear bleak.

The Senate Budget Committee’s approval last Thursday of a provision authorizing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as part of the budget resolution for fiscal year 2007 has drawn the wrath of Democrats and Republicans alike. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have threatened to vote against the budget package if ANWR remains.

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.

FERC on Tuesday issued a certificate to Williams’ Northwest Pipeline authorizing an estimated $333 million project to replace natural gas delivery capacity on the pipeline system in western Washington State.