Opposed

While environmentalists and some citizens are opposed to the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to develop shale natural gas, experts — one of whom has studied fracking for more than 41 years — told a Senate committee the practice does not negatively impact drinking water or the environment.

A Pennsylvania lawmaker plans to introduce a bill soon that would prohibit gas gathering companies from becoming public utilities.

Expecting a rush of new pipelines to support growing Marcellus Shale production, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed two bills this week that give state regulators more oversight over pipelines in the state.

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments next month in a case that could have far-reaching ramifications for the sanctity of electricity and natural gas contracts.

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments next month in a case that could have far-reaching ramifications for the sanctity of electricity and natural gas contracts.

On the heels of a Houston rally sponsored by producer and consumer groups opposed to the House climate change bill, labor and environmental groups — in partnership with Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection — Thursday delivered a counter punch by launching a nationwide jobs tour in support of a clean economy and climate change legislation.

BP plc has chosen a new chairman whose expertise is in technology — as opposed to someone schooled in oil and natural gas — to take the helm when Peter Sutherland steps down at the end of this year. Carl-Henric Svanberg, now chairman and CEO of Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson, will join the BP board as chairman-designate and become a nonexecutive director on Sept. 1. He officially will step down at year-end from Ericsson and succeed Sutherland as chairman of BP on Jan. 1. Based in London, Svanberg, 57, is expected to devote most of his time to BP business. “Following such a distinguished predecessor is quite a challenge but I’m hugely excited about joining the energy industry, which is so much at the heart of the global economy. I look forward to it with relish,” Svanberg said. Sutherland, 63, has been chairman of BP since 1997. He was scheduled to step down in April, but earlier this year he agreed to remain in his post because of the difficult market conditions that had delayed the search for a replacement. BP CEO Tony Hayward said Sutherland “will be a hard act to follow. But I am sure Carl-Henric will be a worthy successor. He is a businessman of international stature who is recognized for his transformation of Ericsson. Our shared views on many aspects of global business give me great confidence that we will work very effectively together on the next phase of BP’s progress.”

BP plc has chosen a new chairman whose expertise is in technology — as opposed to someone schooled in oil and natural gas — to take the helm when Peter Sutherland steps down, the London-based energy giant said Thursday.

Natural gas pipelines and utilities are opposed to FERC increasing the posting requirements for Section 311 intrastate pipelines and Hinshaw pipelines to mirror the stiffer posting requirements for interstate pipelines under Section 284 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). However, pipeline shippers endorse greater accountability for intrastates and Hinshaw pipes that provide interstate services.