Expressed

Despite “concerns” expressed by the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan over natural gas provisions in the measure, the House, by a voice vote Wednesday, passed legislation that reauthorizes the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and strengthens the ability of the agency to crack down on manipulation in natural gas markets.

Despite billions of dollars of current and future natural gas projects, San Diego-based Sempra Energy expressed a new appreciation for coal last week in responding to newly organized local opposition to its very early plans to develop a major coal-fired power plant 100 miles north of Reno, NV. It is a “strategic” location with access to serving load centers in California, the Pacific Northwest and Nevada, a corporate spokesperson told NGI/Power Market Today on Thursday.

Top officials with Exelon Corp. and Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) last Wednesday expressed optimism that the pending mega-merger between the two companies will be able to navigate FERC’s regulatory process without a hearing.

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, on Tuesday expressed support for a strong federal role balanced by state input in siting import terminals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the wake of an industry report that warned that gas prices could double to $13.76/MMBtu by 2020 if policy makers do not quickly take steps to increase and diversify supply.

Reflecting similar sentiments expressed around Wall Street, a Calpine Corp. executive indicated last Tuesday that declining wholesale natural gas prices are not likely to happen anytime soon, and in the longer run, imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and eventual Alaskan supplies won’t necessarily dampen prices as many industry observers have been predicting.

Reflecting similar sentiments expressed around Wall Street, a Calpine Corp. executive indicated Tuesday that declining wholesale natural gas prices are not likely to happen anytime soon, and in the longer run, imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and eventual Alaskan supplies won’t necessarily dampen prices as many industry observers have been predicting.

Entergy Corp. CEO J. Wayne Leonard said last week that several companies have expressed an interest in buying Entergy-Koch LP, its joint trading venture with Koch Industries, and negotiations remain ongoing with a “highly credible, very sophisticated buyer.”

BP plc’s top managers expressed confidence in the oil major’s reserves numbers during the first quarter earnings conference Tuesday, but said the company will delay “slightly” a required Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) report in order to incorporate shareholders’ comments.

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) expressed concern last Thursday that patience is running out for the Senate to pass energy legislation in a comprehensive form.