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FERC last week gave Tennessee Gas Pipeline an extension untilJune 1, 2001 to complete construction of its Eastern ExpressProject 2000 expansion.

California’s power plant siting agency gave unanimous approvalWednesday to Duke Energy’s plans to build new facilities at itsexisting Moss Landing generating plant along the central Californiacoast, adding 1,200-MW capacity while eliminating eight 225-footsmoke stakes and 10 oil storage tanks for the existing plant sitedeveloped in the early 1950s. After a 22-month approval process,Duke officials said earlier in the week they will beginconstruction Monday, assuming they receive a final local waterpermit as expected on Friday.

FERC last week gave Petal Gas Storage LLC. the go-ahead toexpand an existing interconnect between its storage cavernfacilities in Mississippi and affiliate Tennessee Gas Pipeline,despite strong objections from shippers that the company’s projectwas an overt display of affiliate preference.

FERC yesterday gave Petal Gas Storage the go-ahead to expand anexisting interconnect between its storage facilities in Mississippiand affiliate Tennessee Gas Pipeline, despite strong objectionsfrom shippers that the company was displaying affiliate preference.It also granted Petal’s request to continue market-based pricingfor existing and expanded storage services.

The Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety(OPS) yesterday gave El Paso Natural Gas the go-ahead to restoreservice to its Line 1110 from Keystone Station through the PecosRiver Compressor Station in southeast New Mexico at restrictedlevels.

After twice failing to bust through stubborn resistance at$4.48, natural gas futures gave back early session advancesyesterday to finish just about unchanged on the day. A slim loss inthe September contract was more than offset by modest advances inthe out months. While September finished 0.7 cents lower at $4.406,the 12-month strip was up 2.6 cents at $4.099.

Petrobank Energy and Resources gave the board of directors ofRanger Oil an ultimatum yesterday: Give full access to Ranger’sconfidential data room under Petrobank’s terms no later than 5 p.m.(MDT) on Thursday, or Petrobank will not amend or extend its offer toacquire all of the common shares of Ranger. (see Daily GPI, June 9) This would mean Petrobank’sexisting offer would run out next Monday, at 9 a.m. Calgary time.

Cash prices gave their best efforts Tuesday at imitating theprevious day’s screen rise of slightly over 35 cents, and quite afew points came close. But when the initially firmer July futurescontract made an abrupt about-face at mid-morning Tuesday andheaded south to eventually wind up the day more than a dime lower,cash numbers dutifully followed the screen’s lead once again inlate trading.

The major rally that lifted the July contract 35.5 cents to$4.398 on Monday, gave way following some selling pressure earlyTuesday morning. After reaching a high of $4.505, July tumbled 26cents to a low of $4.245, and ended the day down 10.4 cents to$4.294. Volume was heavier than on Monday with 100,223 contractschanging hands.