Credits

Legislation to extend tax credits that support the conversion of conventional vehicles to run on cleaner fuels, such as natural gas, is awaiting the signature of Oklahoma’s governor after passage by the state House. The incentive, which covers about half the cost of converting a typical vehicle and three-quarters of the cost of establishing an alternative fueling station, will be extended until 2020. The incentives are expected to cost the state — a major natural gas producer — $1.5-2 million per year.

A bill that would extend tax credits and other incentives toward new liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facilities is advancing in the Alaska State Legislature.

The large manufacturing sector is expressing strong opposition to a proposal released earlier this month in the U.S. Senate (S 1863) to expand tax credits for natural gas transportation infrastructure and vehicles (see NGI, Nov. 21). At the same time, industrial users struck back against potential widespread U.S. exports of gas.

A single bill that would change West Virginia’s regulation of Marcellus Shale drilling survived crossover day in the West Virginia legislature Wednesday, while two others failed to make it out of the state’s House of Delegates.

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell is calling for new tax incentives and credits for oil and gas exploration and development in a bill that would amend the state’s oil and gas production tax scheme.

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell is calling for new tax incentives and credits for oil and gas exploration and development in a bill that would amend the state’s oil and gas production tax scheme.

Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities faces changes for two rate credits in its purchased gas and power mechanisms that could result in slight increases for fuel purchasing costs, effective Nov. 1. A purchased gas cost adjustment and a power credit with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) emerged following rate hikes approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, which allows retail power charges to increase by 9.25% over three years and natural gas retail charges to rise 2.6% over two years. An initial power rate increase of 3.59% and a natural gas hike of 1.9% went into effect Oct. 1. Avista is proposing an average 4.3% increase for its Idaho gas customers, an average of about $2.75/month for a typical residential customer. The electric adjustment is due to BPA reducing the size of the federal power credit.

In anticipation of a robust market for carbon emissions credits, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is discussing how to keep track of what could become the largest commodity market in the world ($2 trillion within five years) if climate change legislation becomes law later this year.

In anticipation of a robust market for carbon emissions credits, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is discussing how to keep track of what could become the largest commodity market in the world ($2 trillion within five years) if climate change legislation becomes law later this year.