Eyes

Sticking to its end of the year in service deadline, Duke Energy Gas Transmission (DEGT) said it has successfully installed, inspected and tested 1,666 feet of Patriot Extension natural gas pipeline under the New River in Wythe County, VA, and is continuing construction on a 53-mile section of the pipeline moving east from the river.

Southern Union President Thomas F. Karam believes he got a steal with the purchase of Panhandle Energy from CMS Energy. In an interview with NGI last week, Karam said the new pipelines, storage fields and the nation’s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal will provide Southern Union with a 35-50% increase in earnings this year and a substantial increase in cash flow.

Faced with a shortfall in natural gas supplies and ever-rising prices, Charles Schwab energy analyst Christine Tezak said she sees Washington possibly interfering in the gas markets over the next year by either capping prices or ordering supply rationing, particularly if market conditions take a turn for the worse.

Southern Union’s purchase of Panhandle Energy from CMS Energy was a steal that will lead to a significant increase in earnings and cash flow for Southern this year and in the upcoming years, Southern Union President Thomas F. Karam said in an interview with NGI.

The Port of Long Beach, CA’s Harbor Commission Tuesday gave initial approval to a subsidiary of Japanese-based Mitsubishi Corp., to pursue developing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal on a 27-acre site on part of an abandoned U.S. Naval Base in the harbor, which combined with adjacent Los Angeles Harbor comprises the nation’s busiest port. Long Beach’s municipal utility may be one of the buyers of the gas.

Calypso Pipeline, a subsidiary of Enron Global LNG, asked FERC last week for permission to build a $132 million pipeline that would transport up to 832,000 MMBtu/d of regasified liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Bahamas to an interconnect with Florida Gas Transmission (FGT). According to Calypso’s application, the project would provide Florida consumers with “the opportunity to diversify their gas supply options with the installation of minor additional pipeline facilities.”

While many other energy companies are preaching the wisdom of traditional regulated utility businesses and shedding non-core assets, DTE Energy has its eye on expanding several nonregulated operations that could help make up 40% of company earnings in the near future.

FERC Commissioner William Massey, who was first named to the agency nearly a decade ago, signaled this week that he’s interested in pursuing another term at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission when his term expires in June.

The Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council is scheduled to decide Monday, March 10 on a final route for a proposed $94 million Northwest Natural Gas Co. pipeline in Oregon that has fallen under fierce opposition from not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) supporters.