Helped

Strong performances from natural gas pipeline, carbon dioxide (CO2) and terminals business segments helped Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMP) achieve its best quarter ever in 1Q2008, with earnings hitting $685 million, up 36% from $503 million in 1Q2007, the company said.

Improved performance by CenterPoint Energy’s natural gas utilities helped the Houston-based company to achieve net income of $108 million (32 cents/share) for 4Q2007, up a stunning 61% from $67 million (20 cents/share) in 4Q2006.

Improved performance by CenterPoint Energy’s natural gas utilities helped the Houston-based company to achieve net income of $108 million (32 cents/share) for 4Q2007, up a stunning 61% from $67 million (20 cents/share) in 4Q2006.

More efficient development plans, speedier drilling completions and falling service costs helped some key North American independents build their natural gas reserves in 2Q2007 including EnCana Corp., XTO Energy Corp., Range Resources and Newfield Exploration Co., which all delivered impressive gas volume results last week.

A decline in natural gas prices last year helped to lower average wholesale electricity prices across New England, according to ISO New England’s 2006 Annual Markets Report.

Jim Buckee, an astrophysicist who helped build Talisman Energy Inc. into Canada’s third-largest explorer, will retire as CEO this fall. John Manzoni, who, like Buckee is a veteran of London-based BP plc, will take over Sept. 1.

Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon — whose company recently helped bankroll a controversial anti-coal advertising campaign — has only nice things to say about natural gas. And he’s formed a new foundation and hired Denise Bode away from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) to help spread the gospel that North American gas is the answer to carbon dioxide-intensive power generation.

Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon — whose company recently helped bankroll a controversial anti-coal advertising campaign — has only nice things to say about natural gas. And he’s formed a new foundation and hired Denise Bode away from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) to help spread the gospel that North American gas is the answer to carbon dioxide-intensive power generation.

Andrew Fastow, the 42-year-old financial whiz kid who helped propel Enron Corp. to the top of the energy merchant industry only to see all of his intricate financial schemes sink the company into bankruptcy, worked out one of the most intricate deals of his career last week, after pleading guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud. He faces a 10-year prison sentence, forfeiture of $23.8 million in cash and assets, and he is permanently barred from serving as an officer or director of a public company.