Government

Just one week after announcing that he will step down as FERC chairman at the end of the month, Entergy Corp. is reporting that it has hired Curt Hebert Jr. to become executive vice president of external affairs, effective Sept. 1.

U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said the federal government has received 13 proposals from utilities and private investors to expand California’s major north-south power transmission bottleneck, called Path 15. The long-neglected constraint has been cited frequently as one of the major causes of power shortages in the state, and the Bush administration targeted the bottleneck as an area in need of immediate help.

Gas development is accelerating in Canada, according to two government agencies that report healthy signs for reserves and production. In Alberta, still the source of about four-fifths of Canadian gas, production companies have nearly doubled their performance in the field. In 2000, a record 8,228 gas wells replaced 90% of the year’s production, the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board said in an annual review. In 1999, it took 6,015 wells to replace 56% of the province’s gas output.

Gas development is accelerating in Canada, according to two government agencies reporting healthy signs for reserves and production. In Alberta, still the source of about four-fifths of Canadian gas, production companies have nearly doubled their performance in the field. In 2000, a record 8,228 gas wells replaced 90% of the year’s production, the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board said in an annual review. In 1999, it took 6,015 wells to replace 56% of the province’s gas output.

The Nova Scotia government took a page from the U.S. notebook last Thursday, hosting a forum that brought together industry, consumer and international expertise — including the U.S. ambassador — in a process to develop a secure energy strategy. The forum, which soon will lead to a formal policy, also set a precedent as the northern Canadian province aggressively pursues expansion of its vast resources.

The Nova Scotia government took a page from the U.S. notebook Thursday, hosting a forum that brought together industry, consumer and international expertise — including the U.S. ambassador — in a process to develop a secure energy strategy. The forum, which soon will lead to a formal policy, also set a precedent as the northern Canadian province aggressively pursues expansion of its vast resources.

The Mackenzie Valley and Beaufort offshore pipeline proposals got a slight push forward this week following two days of meetings with all of those responsible for regulating energy developments in the Northwest Territories. The agreement, coordinated by the National Energy Board, would set up a draft framework for a single environmental assessment process to review the proposals.

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).