Forward

FERC “took a large step” forward Wednesday by approving the much-anticipated market monitoring and mitigation plan for the out-of-control California energy market, but still it didn’t go far enough, according to officials with Williams Companies, the New York Public Service Commission and Dynegy.

The City of Corona, CA, earlier this month took a step forward in its plans to form a municipally-owned utility after the city council unanimously passed a resolution in support of creating such an entity. However, a final decision on whether to proceed with the project, including the construction of two new power plants, will not be made until a detailed economic analysis is completed over the next six to eight weeks, according to George Hanson, a power utilities and project manager recently hired by the city.

Regulatory approval by the government in Western Australia will allow Chevron Australia Pty Ltd. to move forward with a $1.6 billion expansion of its Australian LNG facilities, the North West Shelf Venture (NWSV) near Karratha, Western Australia. The expansion, which is designed mainly to increase exports to Japan and Pacific Rim countries, also would provide increased LNG shipments to the United States — including a potential new import terminal on the West Coast (see NGI, March 26).

Regulatory approval by the government in Western Australia will allow Chevron Australia Pty Ltd. to move forward with a $1.6 billion expansion of its Australian LNG facilities, the North West Shelf Venture (NWSV) near Karratha, Western Australia. The expansion, which is designed mainly to increase exports to Japan and Pacific Rim countries, also would provide increased LNG shipments to the United States — including a potential new import terminal on the West Coast (see Daily GPI, March 26; March 20).

While Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) awaited the go-ahead from the White House to move forward on a “package” of proposals to aid California energy markets last week, California Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill registered their strong objections to Barton’s decision to exclude price controls on wholesale electricity transactions from consideration.

After several ownership changes and years of consideration, Market Hub Partners (MHP) is finally preparing its proposed salt cavern gas storage project in Copiah, MS, for service. The Duke Energy subsidiary launched a 30-day open season last week to test market interest in the project, which initially would provide 3 Bcf of working capacity and about 300 MMcf/d of deliverability on Texas Eastern and several other Gulf Coast pipes starting in spring 2004.

While Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) awaits the go-ahead from the WhiteHouse to move forward on a “package” of proposals to aid Californiaenergy markets, California Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hillhave registered their strong objections to Barton’s decision toexclude price controls on wholesale electricity transactions fromconsideration.

After several ownership changes and years of consideration,Market Hub Partners (MHP) is finally preparing its proposed saltcavern gas storage project in Copiah, MS, for service. The DukeEnergy subsidiary launched a 30-day open season yesterday to testmarket interest in the project, which initially would provide 3 Bcfof working capacity and about 300 MMcf/d of deliverability on TexasEastern and several other Gulf Coast pipes starting in spring 2004.

The White House energy task force plans to forwardrecommendations for a national energy policy to Capitol Hill inearly April, according to a high-level staff official for the taskforce.