A bill that could expand the use of natural gas in Maine — a state currently dominated by the use of heating oil — is in committee and could be up for a vote in the state legislature shortly after it convenes on Jan. 4.
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West Virginia Senate Unanimously Passes Marcellus Shale Bill
The West Virginia state Senate unanimously approved Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s version of a Marcellus Shale regulatory reform bill on Tuesday by a 33-0 vote.
Industry Briefs
West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has called the state legislature into a special session scheduled to begin Sunday (Dec. 11) to discuss, and possibly pass, a compromise Marcellus Shale regulatory reform bill as early as this week. The Joint Select Committee on Marcellus Shale (JSCMS), a 10-member bipartisan committee, has been working on legislation informally known as the Marcellus Draft Bill (MDB) for weeks. The JSCMS used a failed bill called the Natural Gas Horizontal Well Control Act, also known as SB 424, as the bill’s foundation (see NGI, Aug. 15). The shale gas industry is concerned by an amendment calling for operators to pay a $10,000 permitting fee for the first well drilled on a pad and $5,000 for each additional well well (see NGI, Nov. 28; Sept. 19). The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection also has proposed increasing horizontal drilling fees to $10,000 — up from the current $650 paid by all drillers — to fund additional inspectors (see NGI, Feb. 14).
West Virginia Taxes Gas More Than Neighbors, Says Study
West Virginia has more taxes and fees on natural gas production than most of the 18 other gas-producing states included in an analysis prepared for a West Virginia Legislature subcommittee by the Marshall University Center for Business and Economic Research. However, it isn’t clear if taxes are hampering development of the state’s Marcellus Shale, the analysts said.
Analysts: West Virginia Taxes Gas More Heavily than Neighbors
West Virginia has more taxes and fees on natural gas production than most of the 18 other gas-producing states included in an analysis prepared for a West Virginia Legislature subcommittee by the Marshall University Center for Business and Economic Research. However, it isn’t clear if taxes are hampering development of the state’s Marcellus Shale, the analysts said.
West Virginia Panel OKs Three Amendments to Marcellus Bill
A panel of West Virginia lawmakers approved three amendments to a draft Marcellus Shale regulatory reform bill on Monday, recommending that the state expand the public notice and comment period over drilling activities and change the way it hires natural gas well inspectors.
Backers Try to Whip Up Support for California Fracking Bill
As the California legislature returned from its month-long recess Monday, the backers of a bill (AB 591) to mandate chemical disclosures on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) fluid held a press conference at the state Capitol in Sacramento, releasing the signatures of “roughly 50,000” voters supporting the measure.
California Fracking, Pipe Bills Await August Hearings
While no hearings have been set as of yet for deciding the fate of several natural gas safety bills alive in the California legislature, all indicators point to the picture becoming clearer following mid-August committee hearings, when state lawmakers return from a month-long recess that begins Friday.
California Fracking, Pipe Bills Await August Hearings
No hearings have been set as yet for deciding the fate of several natural gas safety bills alive in the California legislature. They will wait for further committee hearings in mid-August when state lawmakers return from a month-long recess that begins Friday.
Making Sense of the Pennsylvania Tax Proposals
As the summer recess approaches, Pennsylvania is flooded with proposals to tax the Marcellus Shale industry.