Federally

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead has extended an olive branch to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials in the dispute over preliminary results from two federally managed groundwater test wells near Pavillion, WY, and the shallow hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of natural gas wells that dominate that portion of the state (see Shale Daily, Dec. 9, 2011).

An early morning compromise Friday on the critical derivatives portion of the all-encompassing financial reform legislation reportedly would require federally insured banks to set up separate entities to trade the riskier types of derivatives, including those dealing with energy, metals and agriculture and credit default swaps, while preserving their ability to make less risky trades in currencies.

An early morning compromise Friday on the critical derivatives portion of the all-encompassing financial reform legislation reportedly would require federally insured banks to set up separate entities to trade the riskier types of derivatives, including those dealing with energy, metals and agriculture and credit default swaps, while preserving their ability to make less risky trades in currencies.

Declaring federally designated energy corridors in 11 western states “coal friendly” and in direct opposition to nine states’ renewable portfolio standards (RPS), 14 environmental groups and San Miguel County, CO, last week filed a lawsuit challenging the Bush-era designations.

Declaring federally designated energy corridors in 11 western states “coal friendly” and in direct opposition to nine states’ renewable portfolio standards (RPS), 14 environmental groups and San Miguel County, CO, on Tuesday filed a lawsuit challenging the Bush-era designations.

Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) regulators are planning to write to the federal Department of Energy (DOE) to oppose the concept of federally designated electricity transmission corridors. The ACC is poised to take a position different from neighboring regulators in California who once opposed the concept but now support it.

Under indictment for fraud, conspiracy and submitting false documents to a federally insured bank in Topeka, KS, David C. Wittig, chairman and CEO of Westar Energy Inc. resigned last week, two weeks after being put on unpaid administrative leave (see Power Market Today, Nov. 15; Nov. 8).

Under indictment for fraud, conspiracy and submitting false documents to a federally insured bank in Topeka, KS, David C. Wittig, chairman and CEO of Westar Energy Inc. resigned over the weekend, two weeks after being put on unpaid administrative leave (see Power Market Today, Nov. 15; Nov. 8).

Although there was no agreement on the level of preparedness of the of the western energy infrastructure, a federally developed overview concluded that the interstate natural gas pipeline capacity was adequate to serve the large influx of new gas-fired power plants being built in the region, participants heard Friday at a FERC conference in Seattle.