Exhaustive

FERC has to conduct a “vigorous and exhaustive” needs analysis for the proposed Constitution Pipeline before it allows the Marcellus-to-New York natural gas project to go forth, said an environmental law practice representing the grassroots coalition “Stop the Pipeline (STP).”

While there were multiple messages in the exhaustive report issued last week by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) about last year’s San Bruno, CA, natural gas pipeline rupture and explosion, one thing rang out loudest from the five-member panel: tougher natural gas pipeline regulation is needed at both the state and federal levels (see related story).

While there are multiple messages in the exhaustive report approved Tuesday on last year’s San Bruno, CA, natural gas pipeline rupture and explosion by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) (see Daily GPI, Aug. 31), there is one that rang out loudest from the five-member panel — tougher pipeline regulation is needed at both the state and federal levels.

Lehman Brothers Analyst Thomas Driscoll said an “exhaustive analysis” of mergers and acquisitions among 47 large producers, who account for about 70% of domestic production, led him to conclude that production rose 1.5-1.6% over the past six months. A continuation of the first-half trends will lead to 3-3.5% year-to-year production growth by the end of the fourth quarter, Driscoll said. However, the significant decline in prices probably will have an impact on drilling in the second half of the year.

With the pressure of an exhaustive state regulatory review andscrutiny of its neighbors, San Jose, CA-based Calpine Corp. says itis prepared to spend whatever it takes to make a 600 MW naturalgas-fired merchant power plant in its headquarters city a “model”for efficiency and environmental cleanliness among its growingfleet of gas-fired power plants nationally.

With the pressure of an exhaustive state regulatory review andscrutiny of its neighbors, San Jose, CA-based Calpine Corp. says itis prepared to spend whatever it takes to make a 600 MW naturalgas-fired merchant power plant in its headquarters city a “model”for efficiency and environmental cleanliness among its growingfleet of gas-fired power plants nationally.