Mercury

In a decision that creates an unusual victory for both the Obama administration and the natural gas industry, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined a long-running request by 24 states and various energy and business groups to overturn a rule limiting mercury and other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Citing more stringent federal mercury and air toxic standards (MATS), Akron, OH-based FirstEnergy said Thursday it plans to retire six older coal-fired electric generation plants representing 2,689 MW by Sept. 1.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mercury and Air Toxic Standards for power plants — commonly referred to as Utility MACT (for maximum achievable control technology) — were finalized recently, and while they cast a shadow on coal-fired generators, the stricter rules offer a brighter future for natural gas demand.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mercury and Air Toxic Standards for power plants — commonly referred to as Utility MACT (for maximum achievable control technology) — were finalized last week and were expected to be released Wednesday.

The recent arrival of a cold front from Canada will keep Northeast temperatures moving lower Friday, and southern mercury levels will continue to inch downward at many locations as well. Those factors, along with further impetus from the previous day’s nosedive of 14.6 cents by August futures based largely on expectations of a bearish storage report (which were realized in spades), resulted in cash market softness across the board Thursday.

Say what you will about storage caverns bloated with gas and an oversupplied U.S. market; when the mercury dropped earlier this month, pipeline imports of Canadian gas as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG) from incoming tankers and terminal-based storage helped to save the day, according to analysts at Barclays Capital.

Say what you will about storage caverns bloated with gas and an oversupplied U.S. market; when the mercury dropped earlier this month, pipeline imports of Canadian gas as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG) from incoming tankers and terminal-based storage helped to save the day, according to analysts at Barclays Capital.

Better late than never was the general theme surrounding the natural gas futures market Monday, as more seasonable cold weather finally settled into the East. As a result, January natural gas futures began trading in Monday’s regular session at an elevated level, exploring higher ranges in search of resistance.

Better late than never was the general theme surrounding the natural gas futures market Monday, as more seasonable cold weather finally settled into the East. As a result, January natural gas futures began trading in Monday’s regular session at an elevated level, exploring higher ranges in search of resistance.