Committed

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Thursday filed a civil lawsuit against Nicor Inc.’s former CEO, CFO and treasurer alleging that they committed financial fraud between 1999 and 2002.

In a program it hopes to replicate with other cities and utilities, Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas Co. has committed up to $2.2 million in energy efficiency programs and services to the Palm Desert (CA) Demonstration Project for 2007-2008, with the possibility of more funds in subsequent years, the company said Tuesday. The program serves part of the energy-sensitive desert resort community about 120 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

EnCana Corp.’s East Coast chief said last week the company remains committed to the Deep Panuke natural gas project offshore Nova Scotia, but it still has not determined the best way to bring the gas ashore. Deep Panuke’s recoverable reserves are pegged at 632 Bcf.

EnCana Corp.’s East Coast chief said Monday the company remains committed to the Deep Panuke natural gas project offshore Nova Scotia, but it still has not determined the best way to bring the gas ashore. Deep Panuke’s recoverable reserves are pegged at 632 Bcf.

Houston-based Haddington Ventures LLC closed a new private equity fund with total committed capital of $182 million to be invested in the North American midstream sector. The new fund and its related vehicle are Haddington Energy Partners III, LP (Fund III).

Exelon Corp. has long supported the move to combat greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and it remains committed to building more nuclear power projects in the United States. The buildup of nuclear power, however, won’t dampen the use of natural gas as a generation fuel, CEO John Rowe said last week. “Natural gas has become something of a bitch goddess. She’s still queen.”

Exelon Corp. has long supported the move to combat greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and it remains committed to building more nuclear power projects in the United States. The buildup of nuclear power, however, won’t dampen the use of natural gas as a generation fuel, said CEO John Rowe Wednesday. “Natural gas has become something of a bitch goddess. She’s still queen.”

Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) and Exelon Corp. last week said that Exelon has given PSEG formal notice of termination of the merger agreement announced Dec. 20, 2004, and the companies have agreed to withdraw their application for merger approval, which had been pending before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) for more than 19 months.

Shell Exploration & Production said Monday that it is committed to returning to New Orleans. Since Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath hit New Orleans in August, Shell has been working out of temporary work locations in Robert and Baton Rouge, LA and Houston, TX. The company said it will soon be returning to permanent offices in New Orleans, assuming the city is fully restored and able to support full operating needs. “We expect to have a substantial number of currently displaced New Orleans Shell employees back home and back at work in the city we cherish early next year and expect almost all to return in the Q1/Q2 timeframe,” said Marvin Odum, executive vice president – EP Americas.