methane

From coalbed methane to digester gas, solar photovoltaics to wind generation, natural gas has a stake in the burgeoning push for energy alternatives that now sees 22 states and the District of Columbia enacting renewable portfolio goals for electricity production, a panel of gas industry executives told The LDC Forum: Rockies & West Tuesday in Los Angeles.

From coalbed methane to digester gas, solar photovoltaics to wind generation, natural gas has a stake in the burgeoning push for energy alternatives that now sees 22 states and the District of Columbia enacting renewable portfolio goals for electricity production, a panel of gas industry executives told The LDC Forum: Rockies & West Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Calling it a nod for “cow power,” Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced Thursday that it has singed an agreement with a manure-to-methane producer to deliver 8 MMcf/d of “renewable natural gas” (RNG) produced from cow dung. Promising to leave no meadow cake undigested, PG&E labeled this as its “newest and most innovative” renewable energy project, albeit one of the smallest in terms of energy output.

Although no changes are imminent, Powder River Basin coalbed methane (CBM) producers could face new environmental mitigation requirements or restrictions because of preliminary findings that production is having a negative impact on the sage grouse population.

Denver-based Western Gas Resources Inc. signed an agreement with an undisclosed seller to buy about 40,000 acres of coalbed methane (CBM) properties and related gathering assets in the Big George fairway of the Powder River Basin of Wyoming for $136.7 million.

PRB Gas Transportation Inc. and Enterra Energy Trust on Tuesday announced a letter of intent to develop coalbed methane (CBM) properties in Wyoming and Montana. Under the arrangement, PRB will have the right to earn up to a 50% working interest in Enterra’s recently acquired subsidiary Rocky Mountain Gas Inc. (RMG), which includes more than 130,000 net acres of CBM production rights.

Despite the “potential negative implications” from recent court decisions that impact its coalbed methane (CBM) production volumes in Montana, MDU Resources Group Inc. said Thursday that it is reaffirming its 2005 earnings guidance to a range of between $1.80-2.00/share.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last Tuesday issued an emergency injunction to halt the development of coal-bed methane (CBM) in the Montana section of the Powder River Basin while an appeal of the case is pending.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday issued an emergency injunction that halts the development of coal-bed methane (CBM) in the Montana section of the Powder River Basin while an appeal of the case is being decided.