Jobs

It’s all about not standing in the way of cheap energy, economic growth, jobs and energy security, according to more than 100 groups representing U.S. industry, from North Dakota grain growers to Dow Chemical to the Ohio Bowling Association, that petitioned Tuesday to keep the federal government from erecting barriers to hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

The natural gas liquids (NGL) in shale gas offer the United States a “tremendous opportunity” to strengthen manufacturing, boost economic output and create jobs, according to a report by the American Chemistry Council (ACC).

Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) said he supports exporting surplus Marcellus Shale gas to China and other countries that do not have free trade agreements with the U.S., and also backs the concept of exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a port in Maryland.

Williams plans to invest C$311 million to expand two Alberta facilities to support a long-term agreement with NOVA Chemicals Corp. to produce up to 17,000 b/d of ethane and ethylene.

Shale formations are poised to create a renaissance in the U.S. petrochemical industry, Williams CEO Alan Armstrong said Wednesday.

The Maryland House of Delegates has approved a bill that would freeze the permitting of Marcellus Shale drilling until 2013 while state agencies review the results of various studies into Marcellus development and hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking), including a major study being performed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (see Shale Daily, Feb. 24).

House Democrats Tuesday slammed Republicans’ proposed budget cuts in the continuing resolution (CR) that could hamper the ability of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to regulate the $300 trillion derivative swaps market during the 2011 fiscal year (FY).

Laser Northeast Gathering Co. LLC has started construction on its gathering and transportation pipeline in Susquehanna County, PA, and expects the project to bring substantial investment and jobs to northeastern Pennsylvania, CEO Thomas F. Karam said at a groundbreaking ceremony in New Milford, PA, Tuesday.

After months of extolling the potential of the Utica Shale to bring jobs and revenue to Quebec, provincial officials on Friday changed course, warning that natural gas development may not be allowed to proceed.