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U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) used an energy conference as an opportunity to urge state legislators and regulators to come to an agreement on Marcellus Shale regulatory reform, but also took a swipe at federal officials and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Lightfoot Capital Partners plans to make an undisclosed direct investment and own a 48% interest in Arc LNG Holdings LLC, which will own a 20% interest in Gulf LNG Energy’s new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Pascagoula, MS. The $1.1 billion facility is expected to be completed in November and will have a capacity of 1.3 Bcf/d, which is all contracted for the next 20 years under firm service agreements. Lightfoot’s investment comes as Atlas Energy LP (ATLS) announced that GE Energy Financial Services, a GE subsidiary, will invest in Lightfoot to own a general partner interest and a 58% limited partner interest. As a result, ATLS will own about a 16% general partner/12% limited partner interest in Lightfoot, which is the general partner and majority owner of Arc Terminals LP.

Natural gas wells in the booming Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas will use significantly less amounts of water for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) compared to municipalities and farmers in the region, a water expert said.

Pennsylvania policymakers should “watch the rigs” as they make decisions, Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) President Kathryn Klaber told a Pittsburgh audience last Thursday.

Pennsylvania policymakers should “watch the rigs” as they make decisions, Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) President Kathryn Klaber told a Pittsburgh audience Thursday.

Encana Corp. and its partners will make a final decision about whether to move forward with a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Kitimat, BC, early in 2012, and if approved, the first shipments could begin in 2015, officials said Tuesday.

Canada’s natural resources minister said natural gas would help make the country a “global energy superpower,” emphasizing that the resource can be produced and delivered in a safe and environmentally responsible way.

A committee of West Virginia lawmakers voted Wednesday to recommend steep increases in permit fees and bonding requirements for Marcellus Shale drilling, resolving two key areas of disagreement as they work to cobble together a draft regulatory reform bill.

Industry officials were disappointed in President Obama’s jobs speech Thursday, saying their pleas for him to make oil and natural gas the “centerpiece” of his jobs-creation effort fell largely on deaf ears.