Economic

Energy productivity could double with significant macro environmental and economic benefits through stepped-up efficiency programs during the next two decades, according to a report by a national nonpartisan commission headed by Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and National Grid U.S. President Tom King.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) reconvened Thursday in Denver, but was unable to resolve lingering issues and delayed until Feb. 11 finalizing new setback requirements for oil and natural gas wells.

In a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) secretary Steven Chu, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) rejected the findings of a study conducted by NERA Economic Consulting on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. The study determined that the “macroeconomic impacts of LNG exports are positive in all cases.” The study was performed on behalf of the DOE and could prove critical in the department’s decisions regarding LNG export permits.

Natural gas trade between Canada and the United States was up in both directions in mid-2012, but it still had far to go to regain ground lost in the global economic recession, according to a scorecard kept by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Now that it’s getting out of the local distribution company (LDC) business, Appalachia-focused EQT Corp. will have more time and money to devote to the Marcellus Shale, America’s emerging natural gas breadbasket.

Pennsylvania continues its support for natural gas use to power vehicles.

Two of the top women energy lawmakers in the Senate indicated Wednesday that the long-awaited second part of a Department of Energy report on the economic impact of exporting domestically produced natural gas will likely be released before the end of the year, and that the results will be favorable to industry. One called on Congress to express its support for gas exports.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called on FERC to expand the scope of its environmental analysis of Dominion Cove Point’s proposed liquefaction facilities, looking into the “foreseeable future” and exceeding its jurisdiction to include an investigation into the “indirect effects” related to natural gas drilling and combustion.

North Dakota again set new all-time highs for oil and natural gas production, drilling permits issued and producing wells in August, according to the latest report from state Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) Director Lynn Helms. The average price for sweet crude was up, too.