Considering

Montana’s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is considering new rules to regulate hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) activities in the state and has scheduled a public hearing on proposed rules for June 15.

Wisconsin Energy is considering converting its coal-fired Valley Power Plant in Milwaukee to gas-fired generation, CEO Gale Klappa told shareholders during the company’s annual meeting Thursday in Mequon, WI.

North Carolina lawmakers are considering a bill that would authorize a review of existing onshore shale gas laws and create a framework for possible new state regulation, as well as allow offshore natural gas drilling and create a compact with neighboring states.

North Carolina lawmakers are considering a bill that would authorize a review of existing onshore shale gas laws and create a framework for possible new state regulation, as well as allow offshore natural gas drilling and create a compact with neighboring states.

North Carolina lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow offshore natural gas drilling and create a compact with neighboring states, as well as authorize a review of existing onshore shale gas laws and create a framework for possible new state regulation.

The Morgantown City Council is considering a resolution to request that West Virginia stop issuing drilling permits in its portion of the Marcellus Shale “until comprehensive legislation and inspection resources for horizontal well drilling are established to effectively protect public water resources, public health and public safety.” The resolution echoes the sentiments of a group of West Virginia House of Delegates members who have called on the state Department of Environmental Protection to institute a drilling ban until the legislature is called into special session and passes new Marcellus regulations (see Shale Daily, March 21). The legislature failed to pass proposed Marcellus regulations this year, and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has said he isn’t likely to give lawmakers a second chance by calling a special session (see Shale Daily, March 17; March 15). Recently Lewisburg, WV, the county seat of Greenbrier County, also called for a special session to address Marcellus issues. The Morgantown City Council could vote on the resolution Tuesday (April 5).

Action is pending following hearing of the Washington state legislature’s House Environment Committee, which is considering a Senate-passed measure (SB 5769) calling for the phased closure of the state’s only coal-fired electric generation plant and the construction of a natural gas-fired plant on adjacent property at the Centralia coal facility (see Daily GPI, March 9). A committee staff member told NGI Friday that there is no established date for when the committee will vote on the measure, which is the outgrowth of an agreement earlier this year among Centralia plant operator/owner TransAlta, environmental groups and the state. The legislation is conditioned upon certain state and federal regulatory actions, including getting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to exempt the coal-fired plant from looming greenhouse gas emissions restrictions, that would save TransAlta some $600 million on emission-control equipment while it still sold power to utilities in the region.

California legislators are considering a bill that would require all of the state’s intrastate natural gas transmission pipelines to be equipped with remotely controlled, automatic shutoff valves. Currently only some of the more than 10,000 miles of intrastate gas transmission pipelines have this capability.

The Ohio General Assembly is considering a bill that would open leasing rights for all property owned by the state government — including state parks — to oil and gas companies.