Lawmaker

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) is at the forefront of an effort with other coastal state lawmakers to clarify that language contained in the omnibus spending bill conference report should not be used to bolster FERC’s claim of exclusive jurisdiction over the siting of liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals.

Taking their case to the court of public opinion on the steps of the state capitol in Sacramento, California’s leading utility consumer group, TURN (The Utility Reform Network) scheduled a rally for a “Sane Energy Future for California” Wednesday. The event brought together small community and business organizations with Fabian Nunez, the speaker of the state Assembly and author of the electric industry reform bill (AB 2006) that was set for a key legislative committee vote.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may require independent auditors to examine energy companies’ proved oil and natural gas reserves in the wake of the major reserve write-downs by Royal Dutch/Shell Group and El Paso Corp. this year, according to an SEC memorandum that was sent to Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) last month.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may require independent auditors to examine energy companies’ proved oil and natural gas reserves in the wake of the major reserve write-downs by Royal Dutch/Shell Group and El Paso Corp. this year, according to an SEC memorandum that was sent to Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) last month.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) Monday became the fourth lawmaker to call for either federal investigations or Capitol Hill hearings into the rapid run-up in prices for natural gas since late November.

Could it be that the House’s top energy lawmaker, Chairman W.J. “Billy” Tauzin of the Energy and Commerce Committee, is planning to leave Capitol Hill to head up the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)?

The California state legislature’s chief advocate for a return to tightly regulated energy utilities absent retail customer choice programs told a legislative committee session Wednesday that natural gas could prove the next serious energy problem for the nation’s most populous state — perhaps as early as this fall or the coming winter. Increasing reliance on gas derivatives is at the heart of the problem, according to the legislator.

U.S. Rep. John E. Peterson (R-PA) is considering introducing a bill that would bar new construction of natural gas-fired power generation facilities and would establish a seven-member independent commission to undertake a “comprehensive analysis” of gas supply and demand issues in the United States.

House Rep. John E. Peterson (R-PA) is considering introducing a bill that would bar new construction of natural gas-fired power generation facilities and would establish a seven-member independent commission to undertake a “comprehensive analysis” of gas supply and demand issues in the United States.