California

Natural gas forwards rallied throughout the trading period ending May 18 as early-season heating demand, rising exports and production declines stoked supply concerns. June fixed prices jumped an average 64.0 cents, as did the balance of summer (June-October), according to NGI’s Forward Look. The winter 2022-2023 package (November-March) bounced an impressive 58.0 cents on average…

Against a backdrop of persistently wild swings, natural gas forward prices came tumbling down during the trading period from May 5-11, according to NGI’s Forward Look. June fixed natural gas prices averaged $1.130 lower on the week, with both the balance of summer (June-October) and the upcoming winter (November-March) also dropping more than $1.00, Forward…

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has approved a $10.5 million grant to transform the Port of Humboldt Bay into an offshore wind terminal that could support the development of 1.6 GW of wind energy. The Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal, once complete, will manage heavy cargo vessels, offshore wind floating platform development,…

California utilities will be required to supply an increasing percentage of renewable natural gas (RNG), aka biomethane, to their customers following a decision last Thursday by state regulators. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) set biomethane targets for utilities in an effort to reach the state’s goal of a 40% reduction in methane and other…

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) is getting the jump on its methane leak detection requirements and employing new tools to detect the greenhouse gas as it aims to inspect 1.2 million pieces of equipment this year throughout its California distribution system. The San Francisco-based utility has started the next leg of its three-year methane…

The Los Angeles (LA) City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a motion to prohibit drilling new oil and gas wells, phase out production from existing wells, and establish a plan for plugging and remediating all wells in the city. “From Wilmington to the San Fernando Valley, gas drilling and oil wells have disproportionately affected the…

An investigation by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFIRE) has determined that Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) is responsible for last July’s Dixie wildfire in Northern California. After “a meticulous and thorough investigation,” CalFIRE determined the Dixie Fire was caused by “a tree contacting electrical distribution lines” owned and operated by PG&E…

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and Bloom Energy on Tuesday (Dec. 14) announced a hydrogen blending pilot project envisioned for the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) campus in Pasadena. The companies said they plan to generate and then blend hydrogen into Caltech’s existing natural gas network “to demonstrate how the natural gas infrastructure can be…

The city of San Diego, CA’s climate action plan is seeking to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2035 in part by phasing out natural gas use in new and existing buildings. Under the draft 2021 plan, natural gas would be banned in building construction starting in 2023, with an all-electric requirement in place at…