Michael

Michael J. Cianci Jr. has been appointed a FERC administrative law judge (ALJ). Cianci currently is the senior reservist for the U.S. Air Force Environmental Law and Litigation Division, serving in the rank of colonel. Since 2001 he has served as ALJ for the Social Security Administration in Cleveland and Phoenix. He also was the chief ALJ for the Phoenix office for more than two years. “Judge Cianci’s broad experience in both government and the private sector, including his positions as a chief judge and litigation attorney, along with his extensive knowledge of regulatory, environmental and natural resource issues will serve FERC very well,” said Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher. FERC’s Chief ALJ Curtis Wagner Jr. said Cianci’s “exceptional background…will be of great value in meeting our mission responsibilities.” From 1991 to 2001 Cianci worked for the Air Force as a civilian counsel in the Environmental Law and Litigation Division, where his case work included issues involving the Clean Water Act, third-party site clean-up issues and water rights litigation. He managed a field litigation office at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and supported water rights litigation for the Air Force throughout the West. Cianci previously worked in the Arizona attorney general’s office as an assistant attorney general representing several boards and commissions, including the State Land Department. Cianci also worked as a litigation attorney with the Arizona law firms of Snell and Wilmer, and Mariscal, Weeks, McIntyre and Friedlander. After graduating from law school in 1978, Cianci served as a circuit trial counsel and assistant staff judge advocate with the Air Force where he was responsible for prosecuting major criminal cases over a five-state area, including murder, rape, espionage and robbery cases. Cianci graduated from the University of Arizona Law School in Tucson. In 1988 Cianci received a masters of law degree in Law and Marine Affairs from the University of Washington Law School, with a concentration in environmental and water law. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Michael J. Cianci Jr. has been appointed a FERC administrative law judge (ALJ), the Commission announced Monday.

Michael Linn, the CEO of Linn Energy LLC, said Thursday he is still bullish on natural gas for the long-term, and his company is on the prowl for more gas-weighted acquisitions.

Enterprise GP Holdings LP has elected Ralph S. Cunningham as president and CEO, succeeding Michael A. Creel, who will take over as CEO and president of Enterprise Products Partners LP effective Aug. 1. Cunningham was named interim CEO after Robert G. Phillips resigned (see Daily GPI, May 9). Cunningham also was elected to serve as a director of the general partner of Enterprise GP Holdings and Duncan Energy Partners LP. Cunningham has been COO of the general partner since 2005. Creel has been CFO of the partnership since 2000. In addition, W. Randall Fowler was named CFO, and William Ordemann was elected COO of the shared services group.

The Williams Cos. reported a strong performance in the first quarter by its natural gas production and pipeline businesses, but its companywide profits were flat from a year ago due to heavy losses suffered on the power side.

The government’s massive Enron Corp. investigation is nearly complete following the sentencing Friday of two former executives of the bankrupt company.

The Boston Herald ran a story Thursday quoting U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA) about plans by a “major fuel company” to stage a controlled test in which a missile would be fired at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker out at sea to see if it explodes. Capuano, whose constituents live in the Boston area, which is home to Suez’s Everett LNG terminal, told the Herald such a test would help answer questions about what might happen in the event of a terrorist attack on an LNG ship in Boston Harbor.

Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson wrote a letter to FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher this month expressing Canadian concerns about potential environmental, navigational and safety risks of liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker traffic in Canadian waters in the Bay of Fundy and Passamaquoddy Bay in transit to proposed LNG import terminals in Maine.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is asking FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher to help facilitate talks between FERC staff and New York City energy personnel to address energy-related issues facing the Big Apple, including bolstering the transmission grid.