Committees

Labor, oil and natural gas officials have called on the chairmen of the House and Senate tax-writing committees to support tax policies that promote job development in the oil and gas industry, and bolster the nation’s energy and economic security.

The heads of two powerful House committees late Tuesday reached a deal that paves the way for a vote on climate change legislation by the end of the week.

Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell Thursday asked the chairmen and ranking members of the U.S. House and Senate committees with oversight of the energy industry to begin an immediate investigation into possible manipulation of the price of natural gas.

As the oil and natural gas industries took a beating in the Senate and House tax-writing committees this week, Reps. John Peterson (R-PA) and Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) provided producers a ray of optimism. The two lawmakers introduced legislation Wednesday that would remove the congressional ban on natural gas exploration and production in much of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

The Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) was passed by the state’s House and Senate finance committees with relatively minor changes late Thursday, and Gov. Sarah Palin said she was optimistic the bill would pass the Legislature with most of the original language intact. Floor votes on both bills were expected on Friday.

The Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) was passed by the state’s House and Senate finance committees with relatively minor changes late Thursday, and Gov. Sarah Palin said she was optimistic the bill would pass the Legislature with most of the original language intact. Floor votes on both bills were expected on Friday.

The Republican draft energy bill was close to emerging from three House committees Wednesday with provisions affecting natural gas virtually unscathed by a host of defeated amendments offered by Democrats.

Three House committees and a Senate panel voted out energy bills this week that would provide a host of financial and tax incentives for oil and natural gas producers, strengthen FERC’s enforcement hand somewhat in the energy markets and attempt once again to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to exploration and production activities.