Courts

Whether Weaver’s Cove LNG is ultimately built now “is up to the courts,” FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher told a GasMart audience in Denver Thursday. FERC has done its job of approving the safety aspects of the project, and “we don’t pick and choose winners.”

A bid to suspend the pre-filing review process for Quoddy Bay LLC’s proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal while the courts decide if the company has lawful access to a site at Split Rock, ME, should be rejected by FERC, Quoddy Bay’s attorney said Tuesday.

Los Angeles, CA–(NGI News)–Nov 26, 2003–A California Superior Court in San Diego is expected to rule the first week of December in the $1.6 billion settlement between El Paso Corp. and four western states, the principal one being California. Two separate court approvals are needed before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-approved deal can be made final, both of which could come before the end of the year.

California state leaders are “not overly optimistic” they will get the $9 billion in refunds on high-priced power they claim Californians are owed when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rules Wednesday, so they’re prepared to carry the fight to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal.

The Bush administration was dealt a series of blows last week in its attempt to withhold secret documents of Vice President Dick Cheney’s energy task force from public scrutiny.

With water tables rising and court rulings going the state’sway, California began the week Monday on a more upbeat note thanany time this year. A federal court ruling late Friday assuredemergency real-time supplies will be available to the statetransmission grid operator, Cal-ISO, at least through March 19,prompting the governor while on a political trip to Washington,D.C., to issue a reaction praising the federal judge for his “wiseand thoughtful decision.”

In the nothing-is-really-settled department, the State ofCalifornia was preparing to intervene today in a federal districtcourt in Los Angeles that has been asked to raise utility rates tocover the unpaid costs of wholesale power.

A dispute has erupted in the Canadian courts between affiliatesMobil Oil and the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline. Maritimes hasfiled a lawsuit with the Nova Scotia Supreme Court against Mobil,seeking C$3.29 million, plus C$100,000 in general damages,interest, legal costs and all out-of-pocket expenses.

A dispute has erupted in the Canadian courts between affiliatesMobil Oil and the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline. Maritimes hasfiled a lawsuit with the Nova Scotia Supreme Court against Mobil,seeking C$3.29 million, plus C$100,000 in general damages,interest, legal costs and all out-of-pocket expenses.