Granting

FERC Wednesday issued a certificate granting Northern Natural Gas pipeline the authority to expand its system in Minnesota and Iowa by approximately 374,000 Dth/d of incremental winter peak-day capacity.

FERC should try to carve out a case precedent for dealing with transmission market power in the broader context of granting market-based rate authority to power companies, Craig Roach, a principal with Boston Pacific Co., said at a technical conference at the Commission last Tuesday.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) said it was “considering granting” Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS) a waiver of federal regulations that would permit it to continue to operate its pipeline at its established maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) even though two sections of its system now run through high-population density areas.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) said it was “considering granting” Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS) a waiver of federal regulations that would permit it to continue to operate its pipeline at its established maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) even though two sections of its system now run through high-population density areas.

With natural gas expected to become Mexico’s fuel of choice by 2011, a Mexican government official revealed that operating licenses could be issued within the next few weeks for as many as two of five liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals now on the table.

With natural gas expected to become Mexico’s fuel of choice by 2011, a Mexican government official revealed that operating licenses could be issued within the next few weeks for as many as two of five liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals now on the table.

A federal judge in Washington, DC last Tuesday ordered seven federal agencies to turn over documents to Judicial Watch, a public watchdog group, related to their roles on Vice President Dick Cheney’s interagency task force that developed the national energy policy last year.

Granting the company’s mid-August petition, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved Philadelphia Gas Works’ proposal to reduce rates for its natural gas customers. The reduction will result in a $171 million cut in rates for its more than 520,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers (see Daily GPI, Aug. 20).

FERC last week played Santa Claus to the natural gas industry bygranting its wish for a second extension of the deadline forcomments on the mega-notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR)addressing short-term capacity issues and notice of inquiry (NOI)focusing on long-term transportation issues (RM98-10, RM98-12]. Butit did not close the door on those few who might want to filecomments under the current schedule.