The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said $18 million in grants is available to businesses, governmental entities, school districts and individuals that replace older medium- or heavy-duty gasoline or diesel vehicles with natural gas vehicles (NGV) or repower the older vehicles with natural gas engines. Applicants must apply for Texas Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program grants through a participating dealer. A list of participating dealers is available at www.terpgrants.org. The predetermined grant amounts are 60-90% of the incremental cost of the NGVs and engines, and are based on the fuel capacity, usage and weight class of the grant-funded vehicles. Grant applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Projects must result in at least a 25% reduction of emissions of nitrogen oxides, and grant recipients must commit to operate the grant-funded vehicles in eligible Texas counties for at least 75% of the annual mileage for four years, or 400,000 miles, whichever occurs earlier. Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2013 or until all funds are awarded. For information call (800) 919-TERP (8377).
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State Oil and Gas Official Contradicts Wyoming Governor
Wyoming’s state oil/gas supervisor found himself Wednesday cross ways with Gov. Matt Mead regarding the continuing multi-governmental scrutiny of the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) two test water wells in natural gas fields near Pavillion, WY. EPA initially identified a possible link between hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and local drinking water contamination.
People
Pennsylvania state Sen. Mary Jo White recently said she would not seek reelection this year after 14 years in office. The Republican from Venango County in northwestern Pennsylvania has chaired the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for the past 12 years, placing her in the middle of the current debate over Marcellus Shale legislation. Under her watch, the committee crafted an impact fee on unconventional natural gas drilling (see Shale Daily, Jun 15, 2011) and increased coordination between gas drilling and coal mining (see Shale Daily, May 17, 2011). Before running for office, White served as a public defender in Venango and worked as the vice president of environmental and governmental affairs for Quaker State Corp.
City’s Attempt to Seize Sempra LNG Terminal Thwarted in Mexico
San Diego-based Sempra Energy has drawn increasing governmental and business support in Mexico in the wake of an unsuccessful attempt by the mayor of Ensenada, North Baja California, to seize the U.S. energy holding company’s Energia Costa Azul liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal. Operations at the facility have continued without interruption.
Foundation Offers Grants to Study Marcellus Drilling
The Colcom Foundation of Pittsburgh, PA, has launched the $1 million Marcellus Environmental Fund to distribute grants to nonprofit organizations “to address the accelerating environmental impact of shale drilling in western Pennsylvania through public education, community engagement, best practices, baseline data collection, ongoing monitoring, land owner guidance and collaborative projects.”
PA PUC Approves CenterPoint as Commercial Gas Supplier
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has added CenterPoint Energy Services (CES) to its list of approved natural gas suppliers for large commercial, industrial and governmental consumers in several areas of the state.
Transportation Notes
Based upon mandatory evacuation orders issued by various governmental entities along the central Texas Gulf Coast, Texas Eastern said it will be required to shut in compression that is necessary to move gas out of the South Texas and East Texas zones. Effective at 6 p.m. Wednesday all IT-1 and a portion of secondary/preferential firm service was restricted for volumes sourced in those zones, the pipeline said. As information is received from supply interruptions, Texas Eastern will force balance TABS pools as required to maintain system reliability.
AGPA Attempts to Bypass Majors, Tap Royalty Gas, Other Producers for Alaska Pipeline
The Alaska Gas Line Port Authority (AGPA), a quasi governmental body that proposed an alternative in April to the Alaska Gas Pipeline planned by the big three gas producers — BP, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips — filed a new project offer last week that includes plans to strike a supply agreement only with the state for its royalty gas, leaving the major producers out of the process.
IPAA and AGA Call for Review of Offshore Moratoria, Other Policy Changes
Congress should put in place a process to begin lifting the congressional and executive branch moratoria to unlock “very significant potential resources” in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and off the East and West Coasts, independent producer and local distribution company (LDCs) groups recommended to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Friday.
IPAA and AGA Call for Review of Offshore Moratoria, Other Policy Changes
Congress should put in place a process to begin lifting the congressional and executive branch moratoria to unlock “very significant potential resources” in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and off the East and West Coasts, independent producer and local distribution company (LDCs) groups recommended to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Friday.
