Emphasizing

Although emphasizing its utility assets more in recent years, Rapid City, SD-based Black Hills Corp. has found new life in its oil/gas exploration and production (E&P) unit with the advent of the Mancos shale play in the Piceance and San Juan basins, CEO Dave Emery recently told an energy financial audience in Orlando, FL.

Canada’s natural resources minister said natural gas would help make the country a “global energy superpower,” emphasizing that the resource can be produced and delivered in a safe and environmentally responsible way.

Emphasizing education and his state’s economy, Oregon’s new governor last week offered an inaugural address that was devoid of any clues as to how he will treat energy issues in a state buffeted by high unemployment and a $3.5 billion budget deficit. However, a spokesperson in the state energy department said Gov. John Kitzhaber has indicated that he wants to focus on energy efficiency, biomass and long-term energy planning.

Emphasizing education and his state’s economy, Oregon’s new governor on Monday offered an inaugural address that was devoid of any clues as to how he will treat energy issues in a state buffeted by high unemployment and a $3.5 billion budget deficit. However, a spokesperson in the state energy department said Gov. John Kitzhaber has indicated that he wants to focus on energy efficiency, biomass and long-term energy planning.

PG&E Corp. shuffled a couple of senior executives effective Aug. 1, but its CEO reiterated that the company’s focus will remain unchanged, emphasizing renewables and infrastructure development. Along with this operating strategy, the utility holding company intends to remain an active participant in molding a new national energy policy, CEO Peter Darbee told a second quarter earnings conference call last Wednesday, announcing quarter-over-quarter increased profits.

PG&E Corp. shuffled a couple of senior executives effective last Saturday, but its CEO reiterated that the company’s focus will remain unchanged, emphasizing renewables and infrastructure development. Along with this operating strategy, the utility holding company intends to remain an active participant in molding a new national energy policy, CEO Peter Darbee told a second quarter earnings conference call Wednesday, announcing quarter-over-quarter increased profits.

Emphasizing state energy planners’ current concerns about generation in the southern half of the state, the California Energy Commission (CEC) in less than a week hurried along four separate generation projects, including repowering and peaking facilities. Three of the actions came last Wednesday at the power plant-siting panel’s regular business meeting in Sacramento.

A full-fledged heat wave across the southern tier of states, getting a modest assist from the previous day’s screen rise, turned the cash market around Wednesday for a mostly mild rally. Even with slight cool downs due Thursday in the Rockies, conditions will remain hot enough that most of the largest gains were recorded in the West.

Potomac Electric Power Co.’s (Pepco) strategy of getting out ofpower generation, focusing on its wires and distribution businessesand emphasizing its non-regulated side is in full swing, says theutility’s top executive.