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It’s crunch time on the energy policy front, and the big guns are in play, preparing the ground for the administration’s much-heralded comprehensive energy strategy. Vice President Dick Cheney has been putting in a series of media appearances lately, supporting energy development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and a task force of energy experts has published a report calling on the nation to make some hard choices or face “more Californias in America’s future.”

It’s crunch time on the energy policy front, and the big guns are in play, preparing the ground for the administration’s much-heralded comprehensive energy strategy. Vice President Dick Cheney has been putting in a series of media appearances lately, supporting energy development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and today a task force of energy experts is unveiling a report calling on the nation to make some hard choices or face “more Californias in America’s future.”

Calpine said it acquired the development rights from Enron NorthAmerica for the 750 MW gas-fired Pastoria Energy Center planned forKern County, CA. The $500 million project was licensed by theCalifornia Energy Commission in December 2000 and construction isexpected to begin this summer. Energy deliveries are scheduled tobegin by summer 2003 in time to help meet Southern California’sgrowing peak summer power demand. “This project significantlyadvances Calpine’s $4 billion energy initiative to bring 8,000 MWof new generating capacity to the California market in the nextfour years,” said Calpine’s Vice President — BusinessDevelopment John King. Pastoria will be built about 30 miles southof Bakersfield on property leased from the Tejon Ranch Corp. Thefacility will feature three General Electric Frame 7FA gascombustion turbines in combined-cycle with two steam turbines,representing 750 MW of capacity.

Florida may be at the center of another controversy between the two Bush brothers, but this time it won’t involve a recount, but rather states’ rights versus federal authority – federal authority that through the Clinton administration had favored and supported states’ rights to ban offshore drilling. This time, the brothers could be on opposite sides.

Florida may be at the center of another controversy between thetwo Bush brothers, but this time it won’t involve a recount, butrather states’ rights versus federal authority — federalauthority that through the Clinton administration had favored andsupported states’ rights to ban offshore drilling. This time, thebrothers could be on opposite sides.

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory(NETL) through its Strategic Center for Natural Gas released asolicitation for proposals to improve the reliability of thenation’s natural gas infrastructure. NETL expects to fund researchand development projects totaling up to $10 million over athree-year period through this solicitation. Multiple awards areanticipated with industrial participants expected to contribute atleast 35% of each selected project’s cost. The proposals are due byJan. 9, 2001. The solicitation is available at the NETL web sitehttp://www.netl.doe.gov/business/solicit/index.html . For moreinformation, contact David J. Anna, (412) 386-4646, or e-mail:anna@netl.doe.gov .

The Democrats barely mentioned the word “energy” in theirplatform at the August convention, but President Clinton put thespotlight on energy issues last week in Washington with hisdecision to release 30 million barrels of crude oil from theStrategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), as well as a record $400 millionof funding for energy assistance to low-income households for thiswinter.

After watching the market tumble 7.1 cents lower Monday, naturalgas bulls at the New York Mercantile exchange dug in their heelsyesterday as prices careened off support in the low $2.70s andmoved higher throughout the session. By virtue of its 3.7-centadvance and $2.751 settlement, the April contract nudged its wayback up well within the $2.67-90 trading range that has limitedprice movement since March 1. The May contract followed suit,trading up 3.7 cents to finish at $2.781, in a session that sawmoderate activity of 57,862.

Tennessee anticipates completing repairs of a rupture nearHebron Center in northern Pennsylvania around 9 p.m. EST Wednesdayand will accept Cycle 2 nomination increases then if the repairsare finished. Sunday morning’s rupture on the 300 Line is causingrestrictions through Secondary services downstream of Main LineValve 314.