Conserve

New rules to encourage the state’s oil and natural gas operators to conserve water used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) processes were adopted Tuesday by the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC).

ConocoPhillips has agreed to install pollution control equipment and implement other emission-reduction practices to reduce harmful emissions and conserve natural gas at its Argenta and Sunnyside compressor stations on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in the San Juan Basin near Ignacio, CO, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said. Under a settlement agreement with EPA, ConocoPhillips agreed to pay $175,000 in civil penalties. According to a complaint filed with the settlement, the producer allegedly violated provisions of its air emissions permit under Title V of the Clean Air Act. EPA said ConocoPhillips had cooperated in resolving the violations.

ConocoPhillips has agreed to install pollution control equipment and implement other emission-reduction practices to reduce harmful emissions and conserve natural gas at its Argenta and Sunnyside compressor stations on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in the San Juan Basin near Ignacio, CO, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said. Under a settlement agreement with EPA, ConocoPhillips agreed to pay $175,000 in civil penalties. According to a complaint filed with the settlement, the producer allegedly violated provisions of its air emissions permit under Title V of the Clean Air Act. EPA said ConocoPhillips had cooperated in resolving the violations.

DTE Energy has launched a pilot program offering rebates of up to $5,000 for customers of MichCon, its natural gas utility, on products and services to help conserve energy. A limited number of $250 rebates will be available to customers who purchase high-efficiency furnaces or who have a professional energy audits performed on their homes. The company also is offering six rebates of $5,000 to builders that construct energy efficient homes. As many as 200 homeowners who replace their existing furnaces with high-efficiency natural gas models will be eligible for a rebate of $250 each. The new furnaces have to be installed by a licensed dealer and have an efficiency rating of at least 93%. As many as 100 homeowners who have an energy analysis performed will be eligible for a $250 rebate each. Only homes built prior to Dec. 31, 1999 are eligible for the program, and homeowners have to complete at least one of the recommendations identified during the energy audit. DTE also is offering six rebates of $5,000 each to licensed Michigan builders that construct homes built to federal Energy Star standards. Energy Star identifies and promotes energy efficient products and practices.

DTE Energy has launched a pilot program offering rebates of up to $5,000 for customers of MichCon, its natural gas utility, on products and services to help conserve energy. A limited number of $250 rebates will be available to customers who purchase high-efficiency furnaces or who have a professional energy audits performed on their homes. The company also is offering six rebates of $5,000 to builders that construct energy efficient homes. As many as 200 homeowners who replace their existing furnaces with high-efficiency natural gas models will be eligible for a rebate of $250 each. The new furnaces have to be installed by a licensed dealer and have an efficiency rating of at least 93%. As many as 100 homeowners who have an energy analysis performed will be eligible for a $250 rebate each. Only homes built prior to Dec. 31, 1999 are eligible for the program, and homeowners have to complete at least one of the recommendations identified during the energy audit. DTE also is offering six rebates of $5,000 each to licensed Michigan builders that construct homes built to federal Energy Star standards. Energy Star identifies and promotes energy efficient products and practices.

Utilities that have been urging their customers to conserve energy over recent years found out something very interesting last Thursday — consumers are actually listening, according to a new report from the American Gas Association (AGA).

Utilities that have been urging their customers to conserve energy over recent years found out something very interesting on Thursday — consumers are actually listening, according to a new report from the American Gas Association (AGA).

Noting that the United States cannot conserve its way out of the perilous natural gas supply situation, a major gas distribution group and several mostly offshore groups have called on the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) to open up many of the off-limit areas of the federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to production in its upcoming five-year (2007-2012) leasing plan for offshore energy development.

Noting that the United States cannot conserve its way out of the perilous natural gas supply situation, a major gas distribution group has called on the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) to open up many of the off-limit areas in the federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to production in its upcoming five-year (2007-2012) leasing plan for energy development in the offshore.