Considered

Growth in any industry is considered a good thing, right? In most cases, that’s true, but the rapid growth of service territories for many U.S. electric transmission and distribution (T&D) investor-owned utilities (IOU) has led to significant credit pressure because of the two-fold dilemma they sometimes face in adding new customers, according to a report from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P).

Kansas City-based Aquila Inc. late last month completed a stock offering and debt placement considered crucial to completing its acquisition of Cogentrix Energy Inc., and last week agreed to sell its 16.58% stake in the Lockport Energy facility north of Buffalo, NY to Fortistar Capital Inc. LLC for $37.5 million in cash. The sale and stock offerings are part of Aquila’s plan to shed about $1 billion in assets and build up its liquidity in the face of credit downgrades and market turmoil.

Bringing stranded gas to market has long been considered a possibility for exploration and production companies, but finding economical ways to do — without building new pipelines — has been the problem. However, as the thirst for natural gas grows in North America, several companies are stepping up their efforts to move stranded gas to market. Most of the news has centered on liquefied natural gas (LNG), but the interest in compressed natural gas (CNG) is growing, and may be more of a real possibility now than ever before.

London-based BP Plc, considered the third largest energy company in the world, joined its peers in reporting a third quarter profit slide, the first in more than two years, with earnings down 20% because of the decline in oil and gas prices. The global giant said it also does not expect to see high returns into the fourth quarter. Earnings were $3.05 billion, or 14 cents a share, down from $3.08 billion, or 17 cents a share for the same period in 2000. BP measures its earnings on a replacement cost basis, which excludes one-time items and goodwill costs.

London-based BP Plc, considered the third largest energy company in the world, joined its peers in reporting a third quarter profit slide, the first in more than two years, with earnings down 20% because of the decline in oil and gas prices. The global giant said it also does not expect to see high returns into the fourth quarter. Earnings were $3.05 billion, or 14 cents a share, down from $3.08 billion, or 17 cents a share for the same period in 2000. BP measures its earnings on a replacement cost basis, which excludes one-time items and goodwill costs.

Kinder Morgan Liquids Terminals LLC is expanding its Houston area facilities, considered among the largest independently operated liquids terminals complexes in the world. The Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP subsidiary, based in Houston, said it would spend $16.3 million to add 830,000 bbl of capacity within the next year and also enhance its docking facilities to meet customer expansion requirements and improve service.

The energy crisis is considered a major problem by most Americans that is hurting them financially and forcing them to reinvent the way they live their daily lives, according to a new study. The report by Sears Roebuck and Co. and Roper Starch Worldwide Inc., found that nearly all Americans — 98% — are doing something to save energy, both large and small.

The energy crisis is considered a major problem by most Americans, according to a new study this week, that is hurting them financially and forcing them to reinvent the way they live their daily lives. The report by Sears Roebuck and Co. and Roper Starch Worldwide Inc., found that nearly all Americans — 98% — are doing something to save energy, both large and small.

A direct, express pipeline stretching all the way to Chicago from Prudhoe Bay is among the options being considered for tapping Arctic natural gas by the three principal production companies operating in Alaska. The mammoth possibility was disclosed in the Canadian gas capital of Calgary, to a conference of the Canadian Energy Research Institute, by the North American Natural Gas Pipeline Group.