Nationwide

Exxon Mobil Corp. will appeal a decision by a Texas federal judge who certified a nationwide class action lawsuit against the oil giant. The lawsuit, uniting about 70,000 royalty owners, alleges the company unfairly determined royalty payments from gas sales, claiming Exxon calculated royalties based on the transfer of gas to the major’s affiliates, not on the actual value of the gas received.

Approximately 40,000 MW of additional electricity can be squeezed from existing coal-fired power plants nationwide through the installation of standard improvements and clean coal technologies, according to a new study by the National Coal Council (NCC). The study, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy, also recommends that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency return to its prior interpretation of a key section included in the federal Clean Air Act so as to foster efficiency improvements at power plants.

Approximately 40,000 MW of additional electricity can be squeezed from existing coal-fired power plants nationwide through the installation of standard improvements and clean coal technologies, according to a new study by the National Coal Council (NCC). The study, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy, also recommends that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency return to its prior interpretation of a key section included in the federal Clean Air Act so as to foster efficiency improvements at power plants.

Taxpayers nationwide could wind up footing the bill for billionsof dollars if California’s utilities default on payments tosuppliers for the emergency power and natural gas that they’vereceived during the current crisis, warned Chairman Frank Murkowski(R-AK) of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee lastweek.

With today’s electricity demand expanding beyond the reach ofavailable supply, and nationwide electric deregulation effortsproviding inconsistent results, distributed power just may be thenext big thing, according to Bear Stearns analyst Robert Winters.

With today’s electricity demand expanding beyond the reach ofavailable supply, and nationwide electric deregulation effortsproviding inconsistent results, distributed power just may be thenext big thing, according to Bear Stearns analyst Robert Winters.

Spot gas prices into California broke Daily GPI’s nationwideall-time record high of $39 at the Chicago citygate, set in Feb.2, 1996 trading. A western trader for one marketing firm reported adeal for $41 at the Southern California border Wednesday, saying,”And I’ve got my confirmation from EOL [EnronOnline] to prove it.”California was just part of a hyperpowerful cash market that hadmost points exploring price territory they had never seen before.

From coast to coast, utilities and local distribution companies(LDCs) are preparing for the peak natural gas-usage season thiswinter by filing rate hikes with regulators, and bracing theircustomers for inflated gas prices that are still to come.

A new study by the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commissionreports the number of idle gas and oil wells nationwide has jumpedby more than 58,000 in four years to 343,030 wells in 2000, whichillustrates the impact of low oil and gas prices over the past fewyears and the potential for increased marginal well production overthe next few years.