Opposition

Despite the vociferous opposition to a FERC decision on the merger of Exelon Corp. and Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) without a hearing, analyst Christine Tezak of the Stanford Washington Research Group still predicts there’s a 75% chance that is exactly what will happen, “possibly by the end of June.”

As part of the six-week public comment period on a recently released favorable draft environmental impact assessment, local residents along the Southern California coast, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles turned out last week (Nov. 30-Dec. 3) at local meetings hosted by the city governments to express their views on the proposal of Australian resources giant BHP Billiton to develop an offshore liquefied natural gas receiving terminal. Despite the developer’s promise of $25 million in annual economic benefits with no safety/environmental risks, most of the residents’ views were negative.

As part of the six-week public comment period on a recently released favorable draft environmental impact assessment, local residents along the Southern California coast, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles turned out last week (Nov. 30-Dec. 3) at local meetings hosted by the city governments to express their views on the proposal of Australian resources giant BHP Billiton to develop an offshore liquefied natural gas receiving terminal. Despite the developer’s promise of $25 million in annual economic benefits with no safety/environmental risks, most of the residents’ views were negative.

As part of the six-week public comment period on a recently released favorable draft environmental impact assessment, local residents along the Southern California coast, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles turned out last week (Nov. 30-Dec. 3) at local meetings hosted by the city governments to express their views on the proposal of Australian resources giant BHP Billiton to develop an offshore liquefied natural gas receiving terminal. Despite the developer’s promise of $25 million in annual economic benefits with no safety/environmental risks, most of the residents’ views were negative.

Heading off contentious state opposition, South Dakota-based utility holding company NorthWestern Corp. Friday reached a preliminary agreement with Montana regulators and consumer officials on the company’s proposed bankruptcy reorganization. As part of the deal, the Montana Public Service Commission and state Consumer Counsel agreed to settle the PSC’s investigation of the company’s utility transmission/distribution operations in the state. NorthWestern had accused the state regulators of trying to stifle its emergence from bankruptcy.

Heading off contentious state opposition, South Dakota-based utility holding company, NorthWestern Corp., Friday reached “preliminary agreement” with Montana regulators and consumer officials on the company’s proposed plan in federal bankruptcy court to emerge from Chapter 11 protection.

With two of his most likely opposition party political rivals stirring up energy issues last week, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appears to have forgotten about the energy sector, but aides in his Sacramento press office disagree with that perception. They predict Schwarzenegger will divulge before summer his “energy plan.”

With two of his most likely opposition party political rivals stirring up energy issues this week, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appears to have forgotten about the energy sector, but aides in his Sacramento press office disagree with that perception. They predict Schwarzenegger will divulge before summer his “energy plan.”

The deadly explosion at Algeria’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) complex last month may raise the perceptions of risk associated with the fuel and increase insurance costs during a critical period of planned LNG plant expansion in the United States and overseas, says an energy analyst with Fitch Ratings in London.