Lame

The chief of staff for lame duck Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski said last week that the governor has dropped plans to hold another special legislative session to try to win support for the tax plan, ownership and other terms of a natural gas pipeline contract with major producers BP plc, ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil Corp. for a 4.3 Bcf/d pipeline from the North Slope to the Lower 48 states.

With his gubernatorial legacy somewhat on the line, Alaska’s lame duck Gov. Frank Murkowski attempted to reach out to his opponents on Wednesday in the hopes of securing a natural gas pipeline contract, warning that unless a special session is agreed upon by the Alaska legislature, plans to build the much ballyhooed gasline are in “significant peril.”

A lame duck California state legislator and pro-market Democrat, Roderick Wright, chairman of the state Assembly energy/utilities committee, Thursday night threw his hat in the ring for a future appointment ot the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission during a speech to an industry audience in Rancho Mirage, CA.

With little fanfare from the lame-duck Clinton administration,FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker received a recess appointment lastMonday from the White House that effectively would extend his termon the Commission until the Senate adjourns next year. It alsore-designated him as chairman.

With little fanfare from the lame-duck Clinton administration, FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker received a recess appointment last Monday from the White House that effectively would extend his term on the Commission until the Senate adjourns next year. It also re-designated him as chairman.

With little or no fanfare from the lame-duck Clintonadministration, FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker received a recessappointment yesterday from the White House that effectively extendshis term on the Commission until the Senate adjourns next year. Italso re-designated him as chairman.