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The newest branch of Canada’s gas industry, coalbed methane, will be its hottest growth front for a second consecutive year in 2006, field contractors predict.

With the oil and natural gas industry upbeat about sustained growth, the newest oilfield technologies are now beginning to make a dramatic difference, according to a report by Raymond James.

With the oil and natural gas industry upbeat about sustained growth, the newest oilfield technologies are now beginning to make a dramatic difference, according to a report by Raymond James.

Although recusing himself from the initial energy agenda items, the newest member of the five-person California Pubic Utilities Commission (CPUC), John Bohn, was sworn into office Thursday and minutes later attended the CPUC’s regularly scheduled biweekly business meeting, which included a formal introduction by CPUC President Michael Peevey. Bohn, 67, a Harvard law graduate appointed last Monday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said he hopes to “give back a little bit to the state of California” in which he was born. Although having been sworn in 15 minutes ahead of the meeting, Bohn said he would “recuse” himself on all energy issues on the agenda, and “abstain on all matters other than the broadband report,” noting that was what he called “an appropriate way to proceed.” His nomination will require state Senate confirmation as will the appointment of Dian Grueneich, who was named in January to a spot on the commission. On a more somber note, Peevey announced the deaths of two former CPUC commissioners, one of whom, Don Vial, was a close personal friend of his who headed the CPUC in the 1980s, and most recently was one of the board members on the now disbanded California Power Authority that was created in mid-2001 in response to the state’s energy crisis at the time. In addition to Vial, 81, who died last Friday in San Rafaeil, CA, the state’s first female CPUC commissioner, Claire Dedrich, 74, passed away earlier in the month at her home in Sacramento. Vial was a labor economists, Dedrich, a Ph.D microbiologist.

While they appear at first glance to be strange bedfellows, even in California’s unpredictable regulatory milieu, the newest regulator on the five-member California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Dian Grueneich, told an industry group earlier this month that she is a strong advocate for both addressing global climate change and exploring clean coal power generation options. Coming from a Democrat who was appointed late last year by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, that should not be too surprising.

While they appear at first glance to be strange bedfellows, even in California’s unpredictable regulatory milieu, the newest regulator on the five-member California Public Utilities Commission, Dian Grueneich, told an industry group Friday she is a strong advocate for both addressing global climate change and exploring clean coal power generation options. Coming from a Democrat who was appointed late last year by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, that should not be too surprising.

With a recent history as a lawyer and energy consultant before California regulators, Dian Grueneich, the newest member of the California Public Utilities Commission, recused herself from all energy matters during her first business meeting Thursday. She is still in the process of determining on which specific cases she can cast votes. Steve Poizner, a second new member on the five-member panel, is still awaiting formal swearing into office by the governor.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. muscled its way into the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market Thursday with the purchase of Access Northeast Energy Inc. (ANEI), a private Canadian company whose sole project is a proposed LNG receiving terminal on the coast of Nova Scotia.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. muscled its way into the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market Thursday with the purchase of Access Northeast Energy Inc. (ANEI), a private Canadian company whose sole project is a proposed LNG receiving terminal on the coast of Nova Scotia. Just days ago, ANEI secured the critically needed environmental approval for a planned 1 Bcf/d facility, and all of the remaining approvals are expected by year’s end.