Commitment

The lack of commitment to liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the United States and Canada in the form of long-term contracts means the top half of North America is “flying standby” in the global gas market, write analysts at Barclays Capital.

The lack of commitment to liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the United States and Canada in the form of long-term contracts means the top half of North America is “flying standby” in the global gas market, write analysts at Barclays Capital.

In a demonstration aimed at helping cut diesel fuel emissions in the Port of Oakland, CA, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced Wednesday the successful use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a power-production process used on docked cargo ships to supply all of their electricity needs while in port. The utility called it a “milestone” in starting to clean up the air in and around the port.

Following a commitment from state energy officials seeking to put more heft in natural gas-related energy efficiency programs, Southern California Gas Co. said Wednesday it will pay up to $3.7 million in rebates this year to eligible residential customers who buy more efficient gas appliances. The Sempra Energy utility said this was an increase of $1.1 million over last year’s funding.

Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corp., the second largest independent natural gas producer in the U.S., has made a major commitment for transportation capacity on El Paso Corp.’s mammoth Continental Connector pipeline project, said El Paso CEO Douglas Foshee Friday.

Officially following through on a commitment made by its head regulator at a public meeting earlier this month, the California Public Utilities Commission Thursday officially opened a proceeding (“order instituting rulemaking,” or OIR) to examine the current state of relations between the state’s major private-sector energy utilities and their individual holding companies.

Following through on its commitment to return to its core business of energy, Rapid City, SD-based Black Hills Corp. announced late Wednesday it has reached “definitive agreement” to sell its communications businesses for a cash payment of $103 million. Black Hills said it expects to record a one-time loss of about 9 cents/share on the sale.

Northern Border Partners LP last Tuesday said it has finalized the necessary contractual commitment to proceed with the Eastern Extension Project of its Midwestern Gas Transmission (MGT) pipeline, which would extend the potential for the system to deliver Chicago-sourced natural gas to Southeast and Mid-Atlantic markets.

Northern Border Partners LP on Tuesday said it has finalized the necessary contractual commitment to proceed with the Eastern Extension Project of its Midwestern Gas Transmission (MGT) pipeline, which would extend the potential for the system to deliver Chicago-sourced natural gas to Southeast and Mid-Atlantic markets.