Committee

California’s first legislative attempt (AB 591) to address hydraulic fracturing (fracking) will be placed in the state Senate Appropriation Committee’s suspense file when the legislature returns from its summer recess. It is then to be voted on closer to the end of the legislative session in an appropriations panel meeting. The bill is aimed at chemical disclosure of fracking chemicals. The bill’s author, Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski, said “several reports” from the oil and gas industry suggest that California is on the “cusp of a boom” in unconventional oil and gas recovery. Chemicals used and sources and amounts of water in the fracking process would be disclosed as a result of AB 591, Wieckowski said.

As Senate Democrats prepares to take up legislation to end the oil and natural gas tax perks, the Senate Finance Committee has called the leading producers to testify Thursday.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Friday called on Energy Secretary Steven Chu to broaden the membership of the panel charged with reviewing the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) practice used to develop shale natural gas.

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley (R) announced Thursday that four working groups created by the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission will meet beginning on Monday (April 11).

An effort to give Pennsylvania regulators more oversight over intrastate pipelines likely won’t extend to gathering lines in remote corners of the state, but would instead create a registry of those rural pipelines.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) Friday announced his intention not to seek re-election to a sixth term. He has served as chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for nearly eight years (2001-2003 and 2007-2011), making him the top poliucymaker on Capitol Hill on energy issues. Bingaman, who is 67 years old, informed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) of his decision Thursday. He is the fourth senator aligned with Democrats to not seek re-election, following announcements already this year by Sens. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Jim Webb of Virginia and Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut independent who caucuses with Democrats, the Wall Street Journal reported..

Just days after leaving office, former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has signed on for two new positions that could allow him to keep a hand at the political table and a presence in the public forum.

Acting West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Wednesday night said he would continue to fight for the state’s huge coal industry, but he also urged state residents to embrace the opportunities that would come from natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

EXCO Resources Inc. last week formed a special committee to consider a buyout proposal from CEO Douglas Miller of $20.50/share cash, the Dallas-based natural gas-focused exploration and production company said.