“An inadequate natural gas infrastructure is a major contributor to high prices for natural gas in California,” according to a staff draft report of the California Energy Commission (CEC), which pin-pointed a lack of adequate in-state takeaway capacity as the major factor.
Draft
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Industry Briefs
Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) was expected to send out a “discussion draft” of his widely anticipated emergency legislation for California to members of the House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee late yesterday, which means that it’s “still very open to change,” said Barton press aide Samantha Jordan. While “it’s more likely than not” that Barton will introduce a bill to aid California, “it’s not definite.” If he decides in favor of legislation, she said he will probably come out with it in late April after the congressional recess. Barton would then hold one hearing on the bill and move quickly to mark-up. Barton also is hoping to unveil omnibus energy legislation in the House by late May or early June, Jordan noted, and forward it to the White House by early fall.
NEM Proposes Uniform Internet Standards
The National Energy Marketers Association’s (NEM) executivecommittee will vote on a final draft of a National EnergyTechnology Policy at the group’s Industry Leadership Roundtable onOct. 30 and 31 in The Woodlands, TX in an attempt to implementuniform internet standards and tax incentives to upgrade the U.S.energy infrastructure.
California’s Lodi Storage Due in Spring
A second merchant underground natural gas storage field inCalifornia proposed for a depleted gas field 20 miles south ofSacramento is awaiting a draft environmental report from stateregulators in September to stay on its current timetable forstart-up next Spring.
California’s Lodi Storage Due in Spring
A second merchant underground natural gas storage field inCalifornia proposed for a depleted gas field 20 miles south ofSacramento is awaiting a draft environmental report from stateregulators in September to stay on its current timetable forstart-up next Spring.
Northwest Expansion Approved
In a draft order the FERC approved Northwest Pipeline’s mainlineexpansion plans in the Columbia River Gorge area of WashingtonState. The expansion will add 10,870 horsepower of compression atthree existing stations, increasing mainline capacity by 50,000Dth/d between the Stanfield, OR, meter station, where Northwestinterconnects with PG&E Gas Transmission-Northwest, andNorthwest’s interconnect with Sumas International Pipeline (SIPI)near Sumas, WA. (Dockets CP98-554-000 and CP98-554-001)
Medicine Bow Gets Preliminary Nod from FERC
Wyoming Interstate’s proposed $78 million Medicine Bow Lateralin the Powder River Basin won preliminary approval from FERCyesterday. In a draft order, the Commission said the pipeline,which would provide 260,000 Dth/d of new firm take-awaytransportation capacity for Wyoming producers, would be in thepublic interest, subject to a final order following environmentalreview.
FERC OKs Mississippi Canyon Expansion
Mississippi Canyon Gas Pipeline won blessing in a draft orderfrom the FERC for firm capacity expansion from 600 MMcf/d to 800MMcf/d. Mississippi Canyon – formerly Shell Gas Pipeline -operates a 45-mile dual-phase line from the West Delta Block 143″A” platform on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore Louisiana toterminus near the Venice Gas Plant in Plaquemines Parish onshore inLouisiana. The capacity increase is to come from establishingmaximum receipt and delivery point pressures and installation ofadditional metering facilities on the pipeline’s existing system atthe Venice plant delivery point.
Downsized Maritimes Project, Laterals Get Final Green Light
FERC tied up all the loose ends of the Maritimes & NortheastPipeline project in a draft order released last week, clearing theway for the pipeline to begin delivering about 350 MMcf/d of SableIsland gas to power plants, paper mills and new markets in Maineand other New England states this fall.
EPA Questions Alliance NGLs
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found some missingelements in the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS)prepared by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on theAlliance Pipeline project which is in competition with Voyaguer tocarry western Canadian supplies to the Chicago area.