Directive

A state district court judge in Billings, MT, upheld state water quality standards that had been challenged by coalbed methane (CBM) producers. Conservation groups claimed “a major legal victory” while at least one producer said it was in compliance and no changes to operations would be necessary.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) has called on the Interior Department to comply with an Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) directive that requires the agency to fund a study of the effects of coalbed methane production on ground and surface water resources.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) has called on the Interior Department to comply with an Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) directive that requires the agency to fund a study of the effects of coalbed methane production on ground and surface water resources.

Duke Energy Oakland LLC is questioning whether generators should be bound by a “must-offer” obligation included in recent FERC price-mitigation orders if that compliance means that generators will have to run their generating units over and above what is allowed under the units’ air emissions permits.

Duke Energy Oakland LLC is questioning whether generators should be bound by a “must-offer” obligation included in recent FERC price-mitigation orders if that compliance means that generators will have to run their generating units over and above what is allowed under the units’ air emissions permits.

In response to a FERC directive, the California Power Exchange(Cal-PX) board last week decided to shut down day-ahead and day-ofwholesale electricity markets Jan. 31, bringing toÿa close one partof the state’s initial 1996 electric industry restructuring lawthat created the state-chartered, nonprofit public benefitscorporation to provide a wholesale spot market through whichCalifornia’s three major investor-owned utilities were required tobuy and sell all of their wholesale power. They are no longerrequired to do so.