Broad

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) plans to reintroduce a broad wilderness bill this week that would bar oil and natural gas drilling on a large portion of the Roan Plateau in western Colorado.

Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine last Wednesday offered a broad-based energy plan that seeks to promote the state’s energy independence and conservation and efficiency efforts.

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) plans to reintroduce a broad wilderness bill next week that would bar oil and natural gas drilling on a large portion of the Roan Plateau in western Colorado.

Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine Wednesday offered a broad-based energy plan that seeks to promote the state’s energy independence and educate consumers on energy conservation and efficiency.

A broad energy policy reform bill and tax package are scheduled to come to the House floor Friday to be debated and voted on separately. The House leadership has made some changes to the contentious policy measure to win over Democrats from producing states, but producers, pipelines and large industrial customers say the revisions have not changed their minds one iota — they still oppose it. Some say the changes have made a bad bill even worse.

The U.S. Senate Thursday defeated efforts to include a $32 billion tax package in the underlying broad energy bill (HR 6), but Democrats scored a procedural victory to limit debate on the measure.

Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Larry Craig (R-ID) plan to offer an amendment to the broad energy bill (HR 6) being debated in the Senate that would permit domestic producers to drill for oil and natural gas in U.S. and Cuban waters located as close as 45 miles from Florida.

As another footnote to the broad impact of historically high and volatile natural gas prices, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released a request-for-offers (RFOs) seeking a consulting firm’s help and advice in dealing with natural gas fuel. Bids from an individual consultant or firm are due Monday, and a contract would start July 1, DWR said.

As part of an annual review and overview for state lawmakers, California’s chief utility regulator, Michael Peevey, last Wednesday provided a broad energy picture that included higher rates for electricity and natural gas but increased reliability, infrastructure additions and renewable/energy efficiency programs. Peevey also pointed to streamlining of the regulatory processes last year, compared to the previous year.