Battle

Canada’s arctic gas production and pipeline consortium won a battle last week to stay on schedule by limiting environmental reviews of the C$5-billion (US$3.7-billion) pipeline project. Authorities in Ottawa and the Northwest Territories turned down demands by conservationists to include an analysis of broad environmental effects of the project’s development.

On the heels of winning an epic two-year battle for Canadian environmental approval this summer, the international Georgia Strait Crossing (GSX) sea-floor pipeline project offshore Washington State and British Columbia appears to have foundered on the rocks of higher natural gas prices.

On the heels of winning an epic two-year battle for Canadian environmental approval this summer, the international Georgia Strait Crossing (GSX) sea-floor pipeline project offshore of Washington State and British Columbia appears to have foundered on the rocks of higher natural gas prices.

Facing an ongoing battle with Alberta regulators over the impact of its gas production on oilsands recovery, Paramount Energy Trust continued to expand its operations outside Alberta Wednesday with a C$148 million purchase of Cavell Energy Corp. The deal increases Paramount’s daily natural gas production by 21% to 110 MMcfe/d, is accretive to cash flow and expands the company’s operations into Saskatchewan.

If the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) loses the jurisdictional battle over the siting of Sound Energy Solutions (SES) liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Long Beach, CA, to the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC), that will spell serious trouble for all future LNG projects facing regulatory review, said FERC Commissioner Joseph T. Kelliher.

The gas pipeline industry won a key battle last week when Commerce Secretary Donald Evans overruled the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) consistency determination by the State of Connecticut, removing a major roadblock to the 50-mile, 260 MMcf/d Islander East pipeline.

Attorneys for the Bush administration, Judicial Watch and the Sierra Club will appear before the Supreme Court Tuesday to argue the case over whether Vice President Dick Cheney can be compelled to divulge the names of energy executives who may have had a hand in crafting the administration’s energy policy three years ago.

One week after California regulators announced they had asserted jurisdiction over proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Long Beach harbor, the state’s chief regulator Michael R. Peevey last Monday personally extended an olive branch to FERC Chairman Pat Wood in the “spirit of cooperation” to resolve any potential conflicts between the two agencies.

One week after California regulators announced they had asserted jurisdiction over proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Long Beach harbor, the state’s chief regulator Michael R. Peevey on Monday personally extended an olive branch to FERC Chairman Pat Wood in the “spirit of cooperation” to resolve any potential conflicts between the two agencies.