Jurisdiction

Canada’s chief natural gas producing jurisdiction is being pinched by soft prices, Alberta Finance Minister Ted Morton has confirmed. New government accounts, described by critics as highlighting “madness” of relying on resource income, show that gas has fallen to fourth place among provincial revenue sources from its previous stellar role as the reliable No. 1.

Canada’s chief natural gas producing jurisdiction is being pinched by soft prices, Alberta Finance Minister Ted Morton has confirmed. New government accounts, described by critics as highlighting “madness” of relying on resource income, show that gas has fallen to fourth place among provincial revenue sources from its previous stellar role as the reliable No. 1.

Controversy over liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal proposals in Oregon is one impetus behind a Congressional move Monday to rescind FERC’s jurisdiction over LNG facility siting. Gov. Ted Kulongoski has lawyers looking at the state’s rights to withhold permits for federally approved projects with which Oregon disagrees.

It pays to be a consumer — and even more to be the government — in Canada’s chief natural-gas producing jurisdiction.

The new year will open in Canada’s chief natural gas-producing jurisdiction with its residents collecting a double bonus just for living in Alberta thanks to 2005 gas royalties of C$9 billion, more than double the amount projected. The funds will be dispersed to citizens despite a survey showing a majority would rather the government kept the money and spent it on services.

Senate negotiations on the oil and gas title of the energy bill are being stymied by two key issues — jurisdiction over the siting of liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals and drilling on the federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), according to Capitol Hill sources.

Senate negotiations on the oil and gas title of the energy bill are being stymied by two key issues — jurisdiction over the siting of liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals and drilling on the federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), according to Capitol Hill sources.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is trying to elicit support from fellow senators to get the Bush White House to reinstate the funding for oil and natural gas research and development (R&D) that it proposes to cut as part of its forthcoming budget request for fiscal year 2006.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over the nomination of Joseph T. Kelliher to fill the fifth Commissioner spot at FERC, expects the White House to forward the nomination paperwork to the panel “soon” so it can begin the confirmation process, a committee aide said.