Economy

July natural gas futures gained as traders noted a firm tone to the market as well as a supportive weather outlook. Negative news on the economy was shrugged off, and at the close July had gained 14.8 cents to $4.666 and August had risen 14.3 cents to $4.700. July crude oil surged $2.11 to $102.70/bbl.

Claiming that it will harm its economy and set a bad national policy, Utah filed a lawsuit in federal court at the end of April seeking to block an order by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar that created a “wild lands” designation on public lands. Salazar’s order (3310) was issued in late December.

Claiming that it will harm its economy and set a bad national policy, Utah filed a lawsuit in federal court at the end of April seeking to block an order by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar that created a “wild lands” designation on public lands. Salazar’s order (3310) was issued in late December.

The national economy and the energy industry are both gathering strength overall and face an optimistic future in the near term despite some lingering uncertainties, according to a report released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve Board.

Marcellus Shale operators in Pennsylvania are familiar with the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), the interstate regulatory agencies that manage water resources in eastern and central Pennsylvania, but currently don’t have to deal with a similar organization in the western half of the state. However, that may soon change.

The national economy and the energy industry are both gathering strength overall and face an optimistic future in the near term despite some lingering uncertainties, according to a report released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve Board.

Despite continuing uncertainty over the world economy, optimism is running high that salaries at oil and gas companies will increase over the next year.

Despite a recent spate of negative media attention, hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) in the Marcellus Shale is still supported by a majority of the general public, according to the results of a poll conducted by the Rochester Business Journal (RBJ).

The Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) has hired three full-time senior staff members to advance the organization’s communications, outreach, education and policy objectives. Steve Forde, the new policy and communications director, was senior director of corporate communications for Education Management Corp. He previously was deputy communications director for House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio and also served as communications director for the House Education and Workforce Committee. Christopher Heck, who will lead membership services, joins the MSC after serving as vice president and relationship manager at Fifth Third Bank. Heck is current chair of the Enterprise Forum Pittsburgh. The new conference director, Helen Goodman, founded Pittsburgh-based Event Resources 20 years ago to provide services to corporate, nonprofit and public-sector organizations. She also worked for the Pittsburgh Technology Council. “Having our membership more than double over the past year, we’re continuing to grow our core team of experts with our focus remaining on effectively conveying our industry’s long-term commitment to the environment, safety, and a cleaner, more competitive energy economy,” said MSC President Kathryn Klaber.