Independently

Energy regulators must operate independently of both industry and environmental groups, led only by facts and the rule of law, said Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary John Hanger, who leaves office this month after a tenure of more than two years during which activity in the state’s Marcellus Shale mushroomed.

Energy regulators must operate independently of both industry and environmental groups, led only by facts and the rule of law, said Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary John Hanger, who leaves office this month after a tenure of more than two years during which activity in the state’s Marcellus Shale mushroomed.

Energy regulators must operate independently of both industry and environmental groups, led only by facts and the rule of law, said Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary John Hanger, who leaves office this month after a tenure of more than two years during which activity in the state’s Marcellus Shale mushroomed.

Chicago-based Nordic Energy Services LLC, an independently owned alternative retail electric supplier, has finalized an agreement to provide natural gas delivery and consulting services supplying approximately 400 facilities managed by the City of Chicago’s Department of General Services. Under the five-year agreement Nordic also will advise the city on long-term purchasing opportunities. Formed in 2002, Nordic supplies natural gas, electricity and related services to commercial and industrial customers in deregulated markets. Nordic also provides customized risk management and hedging solutions, energy scheduling, bill audit services and other energy related consulting services.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Acting Chairman Walter Lukken told a joint Senate committee hearing last Tuesday that the agency has uncovered no evidence of excessive speculation in the crude oil market, but he could not rule out the possibility of manipulation.

An investigation into whether the market monitor of the PJM Interconnection is being permitted to operate independently from the regional transmission organization (RTO) should be conducted by an outside party, which could be designated by FERC, said a major industrial consumer power group last Tuesday.

Kinder Morgan Liquids Terminals LLC is expanding its Houston area facilities, considered among the largest independently operated liquids terminals complexes in the world. The Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP subsidiary, based in Houston, said it would spend $16.3 million to add 830,000 bbl of capacity within the next year and also enhance its docking facilities to meet customer expansion requirements and improve service.