Pacific

Pacific Northwest water flows, which can influence summer energy supplies throughout the West, are likely to differ greatly between the northeasterly and southeasterly parts of the four-state and far western Canada region, according to the latest analysis from the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC). Below-average steam flows can be expected in the Snake River basin and eastern Oregon in the southern part of the Columbia River Basin, but flows are expected to be near or just slightly below normal in the upper Columbia and main Columbia River this spring and summer. “The highest runoff forecast in the basin can be found in the upper Columbia in British Columbia,” NPCC Manager Jim Ruff told the NPCC board. He also concluded that with an only slightly below-normal snowpack as of April 1, it is likely there will be a good summer runoff at near-normal levels in the main Columbia River this spring-summer season. NPCC’s latest analysis follows the Northwest River Forecast Center predicting that river flows for the first seven months this year will be about 89% of normal, and the fact that they are that high is attributable to much higher-than-normal precipitation last fall (see Daily GPI, April 8).

Always an important factor in gauging summer energy supplies, particularly for power generation, Pacific Northwest river flows and water levels are getting increased scrutiny this month following an above-normally dry and warm January through March period.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s (PG&E) natural gas system appears to have overcome the San Bruno, CA, natural gas pipeline rupture and explosion two and a half years ago, PG&E Corp.’s Nick Stavropoulos, executive vice president of gas operations, said in Houston last week.

With close cooperation with its major unions, a lot of new management expertise and a commitment throughout its company workforce, Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s (PG&E) natural gas system has risen from the trauma of the San Bruno pipeline rupture and explosion two and a half years ago, Nick Stavropoulos, PG&E Corp. executive vice president of gas operations, told an energy conference in Houston Tuesday.

The smallest entry in the lineup to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a proposed new terminal at Kitimat on the northern Pacific coast of British Columbia has postponed its original startup date by two years.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has added a high-tech laser scanning device to its safety tool box for its pipeline systems. EXAscan, which is produced by Creaform in Quebec, may be placed a few inches above a section of pipe to produce 3-D views. It is said to be accurate within 40 microns (0.0016 of an inch) to detect potential corrosion, dents or warping. PG&E is able to capture information electronically for an entire pipeline section within minutes, a spokesperson said.

Natural gas groups Wednesday said they were hopeful the Obama administration will provide a more cohesive energy policy during the president’s second term, at the same time urging various industry segments to speak to lawmakers and the public with one voice on hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

California regulators last week approved a three-year natural gas pipeline enhanced safety plan for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E), but they denied ratepayer support for most of the cost of the utility’s proposal. Separately, the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) adopted new protections for safety-related whistleblowers as directed by a new state law (AB 705).

Two Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) executives said Tuesday the San Francisco-based combination utility’s natural gas pipeline system is safer than it was two years ago in the aftermath of the rupture and explosion in San Bruno, CA, that killed eight people and injured scores.