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Quebec’s shale gas could generate as many as 19,000 jobs and more than C$1 billion in annual royalties for the province, according to an economic benefits study issued earlier this month.

Quebec’s shale gas could generate as many as 19,000 jobs and more than C$1 billion in annual royalties for the province, according to an economic benefits study issued on Friday.

Cash numbers continued to defy seasonable to cool weather in many regions for the most part as flat to slightly higher prices remained the norm for a second day Wednesday. The previous day’s loss of 8.7 cents by October futures also had limited impact in dampening the market.

Intense heat in many areas finally appeared to be reviving the spot market, but only to a small degree, Thursday. The previous day’s minor rebound of 2.9 cents by September futures also helped in raising cash prices slightly at most points.

New restrictions on power plant emissions on the horizon will have a significant impact on the nation’s coal-fired power generating fleet, forcing many gigawatts of capacity into retirement, RRI Energy Inc. CEO Mark Jacobs told financial analysts Friday. And that could yield a significant boost to natural gas demand from the power sector.

New restrictions on power plant emissions on the horizon will have a significant impact on the nation’s coal-fired power generating fleet, forcing many gigawatts of capacity into retirement, RRI Energy Inc. CEO Mark Jacobs told financial analysts Friday. And that could yield a significant boost to natural gas demand from the power sector.

Forecasts of high temperatures on either side of 90 in many regions and even greater in the South, Midcontinent and parts of the West revived the spot market by generally small amounts Thursday. A tropical wave was still too close to West Africa to be a factor, but the previous day’s 4.8-cent futures drop had essentially no impact as a negative guide for cash prices.

Buffeted by prior-day futures weakness, the lack of any tropical threat to offshore production and generally moderate temperatures for early July in many areas, cash prices fell by double-digit amounts at all points Friday. The usual weekend layoff of industrial load also played a bearish role.

Many near-flat numbers were involved in a market that was mildly higher in much of the East but decidedly softer in the West Wednesday. Hot weather will remain through Thursday in much of the southern half of the U.S., but cool to mild temperatures will continue to prevail in much of North America.