Legislation

The nine-member Louisiana congressional delegation is expected to offer legislation later this week that would give Gulf Coast producing states a share of federal revenues from offshore oil and natural gas production to help with recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The American Public Gas Association (APGA) on Wednesday called on Congress to include language in budget reconciliation legislation that would allow coastal states to open up their currently closed shores to oil and natural gas production.

Western industry stakeholders heaped mostly praise on the 2005 Energy Policy Act Monday, following President Bush’s signing of the legislation. California’s governor, the state’s largest electric utility and the federal government’s large regional electricity marketer/transporter in the Pacific Northwest all issued initial reactions.

A Florida Republican in the House was joined by 18 other lawmakers from the state’s congressional delegation this week in introducing legislation to permanently ban oil and natural gas off the Florida coastline.

Federal versus states rights took center stage during the second day of mark-up of comprehensive energy legislation before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday.

Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams is pushing for legislation to give an investment tax credit to oil and gas operators that drill exploratory wells in the state. Williams, speaking to the Texas Energy Planning Council recently, said the credit would accelerate exploratory drilling and combat the state’s production decline rates.

Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams is pushing for legislation to give an investment tax credit to oil and gas operators that drill exploratory wells in the state. Williams, speaking to the Texas Energy Planning Council last week, said the credit would accelerate exploratory drilling and combat the state’s production decline rates.

The cost of the energy tax package that the Senate passed last month as part of broader tax corporate tax cut legislation (S. 1637) keeps creeping upwards.

A Government Accounting Office (GAO) report has recommended the Interior Department seek legislation authorizing closer controls for its Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) over oil and gas drilling in national wildlife refuges.