Florida

Despite impossible odds of passing the GOP-controlled Senate, House lawmakers on their third day of control Tuesday introduced seven bills designed to block the Trump administration’s plans to expand offshore oil and gas drilling.

Trade associations representing the oil and gas industry said that despite a return to divided government in Congress for the next two years, last week’s midterm elections both produced and retained candidates that the industry believes they can work with effectively.

As Hurricane Michael continued on its collision course with the western Florida coast Tuesday, natural gas markets were left to weigh the impacts of Gulf of Mexico (GOM) production shut-ins against the potential demand destruction from storm-related power outages.

Florida’s electric utilities are better prepared for the tropical storms and hurricanes that bear down on the state than they ever have been, according to an assessment by the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC).

FERC will not ask the Supreme Court to review a landmark district court ruling that found the Commission failed to adequately consider the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions before issuing a favorable environmental review for a trio of natural gas pipeline projects in the Southeast.

FERC has authorized Florida Southeast Connection LLC to construct and operate its proposed Okeechobee Lateral project, which would provide up to 400,000 Dth/d of firm transportation service to the Okeechobee Clean Energy Center in south central Florida.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE), the self-proclaimed largest utility company in the world, announced an agreement Monday with Southern Company to acquire Gulf Power, Florida City Gas and ownership interests in the Oleander and Stanton natural gas generating plants in Florida in deals valued at about $6.475 billion, including $1.4 billion of debt.

Landmark offshore drilling safety rules put in place following the tragic Macondo well blowout in 2010 may be rolled back by the Trump administration.

Maryland and Florida are moving forward with efforts designed to hamper the Trump administration’s plans to expand oil and natural gas drilling in the offshore.