Bitter

The Republican Steering Committee last Tuesday selected Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) as chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, bringing to a close the bitter power struggle for the top seat. The entire House Republican Conference seconded the vote last Wednesday.

The Republican Steering Committee Tuesday selected Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) as chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, bringing to a close the bitter power struggle for the top seat. The entire House Republican Conference seconded the vote on Wednesday.

A hearing last Tuesday in a federal district court in Mexico ruled in Sempra Energy’s favor but did not end a bitter legal dispute over Sempra’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility along the North Baja California Pacific Coast and a would-be landowner seeking 250 acres adjacent to the site.

A hearing Tuesday in a federal district court in Mexico ruled in Sempra Energy’s favor but did not end a bitter legal dispute over Sempra’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility along the North Baja California Pacific Coast and a would-be landowner seeking 250 acres adjacent to the site.

A hearing in a federal district court in Mexico Tuesday will clarify but not entirely resolve the bitter legal dispute involving Sempra Energy’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility along the North Baja California Pacific Coast and a would-be landowner seeking 250 acres adjacent to the site. It will take a second Mexican court proceeding July 28 to begin to clear the air, but that outcome could be appealed.

A federal district court hearing in Mexico on Tuesday is expected to clarify — but not resolve — a bitter legal dispute to determine whether Sempra Energy’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility sited along the North Baja California Pacific Coast may continue to operate, or whether a landowner who is seeking 250 acres adjacent to the site prevails.

Northeast traders woke up to a Monday morning surprise as bitter cold sent cash prices to a high of $20 at Transco Zone 6 New York and an average well over $12, which was up more than $4 from weekend price levels. New England Citygates on Algonquin jumped to highs of $18 and averaged over $14, up more than $6/MMBtu from Friday. Outside the Northeast, however, price volatility was subdued and price changes were mixed.

The headline on The Weather Channel’s (TWC) next-day forecast posted Thursday afternoon said it all: “Bitter cold for much of the country.” As could be expected, prices continued to rise at most points Thursday, with only a few flat to nearly 20 cents lower Northeast citygates preventing all-points gains.

Bitter cold pushed natural gas cash prices up more than $1.25 at nearly all market locations on Monday with Northeast points up more than $2 in many cases. New York quotes jumped to more than $16/MMBtu. Despite the cash spike, however, futures staged a late reversal ending the day down more than 27 cents to $13.66 after peaking at $14.45 around 1:20 p.m. EST.