Governments

As other shale players are moving to liquids, Range Resources Corp. said Wednesday it is simply expanding the house it has long been building in the neighborhood.

Ohio voters believe the benefits of shale gas development outweigh the risks, but they also believe the state should put the breaks on development, according to a new poll.

After expressing initial reservations, a group representing county governments in Pennsylvania is now supporting a county-level impact fee proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett.

Governments of Canada’s producing provinces are throwing their weight behind the country’s foray into exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Asia.

Governments of Canada’s producing provinces are throwing their weight behind the country’s foray into exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Asia.

The natural gas industry and local governments are among the dozen organizations that are part of a rate settlement approved recently by the Wyoming Public Service Commission (PSC) for PacifiCorp’s Rocky Mountain Power utility. The settlement authorizes a $44.6 million hike effective Sept. 22. Kinder Morgan Interstate Gas Transmission LLC and the Powder River Basin Resource Council, along with the city of Casper and Natrona County, were among the settling parties. The Salt Lake City-based utility originally had asked the PSC to approve a $97.9 million rate increase. A utility spokesperson said even before the agreement the utility had lowered its original request substantially due to federal tax law changes and reduced power costs. Casper’s attorney said the settlement addresses system reliability issues by including a capital improvement plan.

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley on Monday signed an executive order requiring the state to undertake a study of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, with recommendations on a possible state-level severance tax and a report on potential impacts of drilling on groundwater among the items due over the next three years.

The mayor of Dallas has directed city council to form a Gas Drilling Task Force and appointed a former council member to lead the body.

Range Resources Corp. is threatening to leave a western Pennsylvania township over a dispute with local officials.